(EnergyAsia, October 25 2011, Tuesday) — Greenlots, a Singapore-based global provider of charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), said it has begun a landmark electric vehicle trial in collaboration with Malaysian car manufacturer Proton Holdings Berhad.

Last month, Proton’s group managing director, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, handed over to the Malaysian government eight Exora Range Extender Electric Vehicles (REEV) and Saga Electric Vehicles (EV) along with the first batch of Greenlots charging stations at Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya.

The charging stations are networked via Greenlots’ online web platform and have been installed at the premises of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA). Proton plans to continue adding charging infrastructure at locations in Putrajaya and Cyberjaya over the next 18 months.

“Proton will be able to collect data and manage their charging stations remotely with a networked charging system. This gives valuable information not only on the technical performance of the car, but insight to user behaviour as well,” said Ron Mahabir, director of Greenlots. Proton plans to use this test to prepare for a commercial rollout of electric vehicles in 2013.

Established in 1985 as part of an ambitious national industrialisation plan, Proton is Malaysia’s leading car manufacturer.

Established in 2008, Greenlots is a leading provider of charging solutions in Asia and has installed systems in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Greenlots provides the enabling platform for utilities, municipalities, EV manufacturers and distributors and other private businesses to install, own and operate their own EV charging network.

In July, Greenlots announced that it had started a cooperation agreement with evHUB, a Singapore-based researcher, innovator and integrator of electric vehicles and electric vehicle technology. evHUB’s focus on electric vehicle conversions for commercial fleets is synergistic with Greenlots’ focus on charging hardware and software modules specially designed for commercial applications.

Established in 2009, evHUB is a collaborative research centre of excellence for electric vehicles (EV). The company serves as a hotbed for innovative research on green sustainable transport solutions, consumer response, environmental impact, and electric vehicle technology.

By conducting research and technology development and participating in relevant policy guidance to the state and institutions of higher learning, evHUB strives to help solve research questions and address commercialisation issues for electric vehicles. The company has converted the first state-approved electric vehicles for the Singapore market and is in the process of launching commercial vehicles for corporate fleets this year.

“Greenlots is a natural fit for our developments in the commercial fleet sector,” said David Chou, founder and managing director of evHUB. “We are deploying convenient, affordable and clean solutions for fleets and Greenlots has a similar mindset in its product offering.”

Greenlots managing director, Oliver Risse, said: “As pioneers in the electric vehicle sector, we have known evHUB for several years now and this solidifies are cooperation.”