TTDI Residents Continue To Urge DBKL to Relocate On-Street EV Chargers As Parking Woes Persist

Residents of TTDI continue to urge DBKL to move on-street EV chargers as parking gets worse.

Calls continue to mount for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to relocate electric vehicle charging bays (EVCBs) that were installed on existing public parking spaces in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI).

More than a year after residents first raised concerns over the loss of street parking to inactive EV chargers along Lorong Rahim Kajai 13 and Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad, the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents Association (TTDIRA) has reiterated that the problem remains unresolved, calling for the bays to be shifted away from congested commercial streets.

According to TTDIRA secretary-general Shaik Zafrul Shaik Abdul Shukkor, the converted parking bays—particularly those located along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3—remain restricted from regular public use, tightening the availability of spaces for visitors and business patrons in the bustling neighborhood.

Enforcement Gaps and Widespread Misuse of Charging Bays

The ongoing frustration stems not from opposition to green mobility, but from the logistical friction caused by carving out scarce public street lots for dedicated EV use.

Residents and commercial tenants note that securing parking near shops and eateries has become increasingly difficult. Compounding the shortage is a recurring lack of operational oversight:

• Bays are frequently occupied by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that have been “ICEd” out of desperation for parking.
• EV owners often leave their vehicles plugged in or parked long after charging cycles have concluded, effectively blocking other users.
• A notable absence of effective enforcement monitoring allows unauthorized parking to continue unchecked, frustrating both EV drivers in need of a top-up and regular motorists seeking a place to park.

DBKL Policy Shift Bans Future Conversions of Existing Lots

The residents’ push for relocation follows a policy update from DBKL, which confirmed that it would no longer permit the conversion of existing on-street municipal parking bays into electric vehicle charging stations.

Under the revised guidelines, charge point operators (CPOs) and commercial firms applying to deploy public chargers must construct brand-new, additional parking spaces at viable off-street locations rather than repurposing already scarce public infrastructure.

Shaik Zafrul pointed out that DBKL’s policy revision validates the grievances TTDI residents have voiced since mid-2025. Given that City Hall has acknowledged the issue by halting future bay conversions, the association contends that existing chargers placed on pre-existing curbside lots should now be dismantled and relocated to dedicated commercial facilities or purpose-built charging hubs.

To resolve the impasse, TTDIRA has invited DBKL town planning officials and relevant charge point operators to conduct an on-site inspection in TTDI to assess real-world traffic flows, commercial parking utilization, and feasible alternative locations for charging infrastructure.