Alam Flora Pilots EV, AI Technology For Public Cleansing Operations

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Bhd, is modernising its waste management and public cleansing operations through the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies and mechanised equipment as it seeks to improve operational efficiency while supporting the country’s sustainability agenda.

Its chief executive officer, Shariman Yusuf Mohamed Zain, said the EV fleet and electric cleaning equipment form part of the company’s broader mechanisation and modernisation strategy aimed at improving productivity, service quality and operational efficiency.

He said the technologies are currently being deployed under a proof-of-concept (POC) programme to assess their suitability, reliability, maintenance requirements, operating costs and performance under actual operating conditions before wider deployment.

“The initiative is not just about introducing EVs and electric cleaning equipment. It is about modernising how essential public services are delivered through technology while gaining practical operational experience through our ongoing proof-of-concept programme to guide future adoption,” he told Bernama recently.

Shariman said the initiative also supports quieter, cleaner and more sustainable public cleansing operations while allowing the company to continue operating both EV and conventional fleets to identify the most suitable long-term operating model.

He said the move is aligned with the government’s aspirations under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s circular economy agenda, which emphasise low-carbon cities and sustainable waste management.

Shariman also said that the company decided to introduce the technology only after EV battery technology had matured sufficiently and following successful deployments in countries including Singapore and China.

“We did not want to become the guinea pig...we wanted to ensure the technology was sufficiently proven before introducing it into our operations,” he stressed.

Alam Flora has introduced a range of EV-powered assets, including two 19-tonne refuse compactors, an EV road washer, a medium road sweeper, four mini road sweepers, four mini road maintenance vehicles, 182 motorcycles, 56 tricycles, 20 blowers, four vacuum units and two glutton machines.

Shariman said the company is also deploying AI-enabled Mobile Digital Video Recorder (MDVR) technology capable of enhancing driver safety by alerting drivers to potential hazards and identifying damaged waste bins during collection operations.

“The AI system can assist in improving safety and reduce the need for manual inspections by detecting damaged bins and other operational aspects,” he shared.

He said the POC programme, which will run for between three and six months, will assess key operational indicators including driving range, payload capacity, charging time, operating costs and the vehicles’ ability to meet the company’s service level agreements.

“We have to ensure the EVs can perform at the same level as our conventional fleet before we expand their deployment,” he said, adding that each EV refuse collection vehicle is expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 77 per cent compared with a diesel-powered equivalent, based on the company’s internal operational assessment.

He said a conventional diesel compactor emits about 232 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) annually, compared with 53.6 tCO₂e for an EV unit, representing an annual reduction of 178.4 tCO₂e on a one-to-one comparison.

However, he said EVs currently cost between 60 per cent and 100 per cent more than conventional refuse compactors, although lower fuel and maintenance costs are expected to offset the higher upfront investment over the vehicles’ lifecycle. In addition, changing infrastructure is also important.

Shariman, who joined Alam Flora in December 2024, said Alam Flora plans to gradually expand the use of EVs but expects to maintain a hybrid fleet, with future deployment depending on the findings of the pilot programme and technological developments.

“We will continue leveraging insights from the proof-of-concept programme to guide future fleet planning and technology adoption. The long-term goal is to build a more efficient, sustainable and future-ready fleet while maintaining service reliability,” he said.

The initiative reflects Alam Flora’s commitment to its aspiration of "Enhancing Life, Enriching Communities" by delivering innovative and sustainable public cleansing services that improve environmental quality, support community wellbeing and contribute towards building more resilient and sustainable cities.

-- BERNAMA