An EV owner in Perak has reportedly received a summon from the police for having a JPJePlate on his Proton e.MAS 7. The summon slip claimed that the JPJePlate on the EV did not follow the regulations.
The JPJePlate was launched last September which marked the first major step in the government’s effort to introduce standardised number plates. Currently in the pilot phase, the new standardized number plate is only mandatory for new battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (excluding motorcycles) that are delivered to customers from 9 September 2024 onwards.
As for BEVs and FCEVs that were registered before 9 September, it is not mandatory for them to be fitted with JPJePlate even though they were allowed to do so starting last November. The JPJePlate is priced at RM98 per set although each authorised fitment centre is free to determine other related charges such as service or fitment fees.
Back to the case in Perak, our sources informed us that the summon has since been reviewed once again and nullified by the authorities. Nevertheless, it begs the question: what actually happened?
Was it an honest mistake or miscommunication?
Both the JPJePlate and Proton e.MAS 7 were launched with a huge fanfare in addition to having massive media coverage. So, it seems a little bit far-fetched that a law enforcement officer could misidentify them.
Furthermore, JPJePlate features a QR code that acts as a digital identifier that anyone can use to quickly determine its authenticity. Even though it is not a 100% fool-proof method, we already see how fake JPJePlate maker didn’t even bother putting QR codes on their replica number plates, like the one used by this Mercedes-Benz A250.
Could this be a case of mistaken identity? Some may argue that there are certain similarities between the e.MAS 7, X50, X70, and X90 in terms of exterior design. That being said, it is not to the extent that you can’t differentiate the EV from its ICE-based stablemates.
While this might be the first incident that came to our attention, it is not the first JPJePlate-related case out there.
There was one incident in Sabah last December but in that case, the EV owner was summoned for not having the JPJePlate on his vehicle. This is despite JPJePlate not being compulsory for his EV as it was registered before 9 September 2024.
Frankly speaking, both of these cases seem rather avoidable even though JPJePlate is still in the pilot phase. Perhaps, the relevant agencies may need to improve their communication to ensure that all officers have the most up-to-date information regarding the latest regulations.
