Electric vehicles are becoming more common in Malaysia, and drivers are starting to look for ways to save on charging costs. Credit cards are one of the simplest tools for this. Banks are slowly adapting their rewards programmes to include EV charging, and a few products now offer strong benefits.

Our RinggitPlus guide answers the key questions Malaysian EV owners have about maximising their charging rewards.

Quick comparison: Best EV charging cards

Card	Cashback Rate and Cap	Best For
CIMB PETRONAS Visa Infinite-i	12% (RM60/month)	Heavy PETRONAS users
CIMB PETRONAS Visa-i Platinum-i	8% (RM50/month)	Regular PETRONAS users
Maybank myimpact Visa	8% (RM35/month, ends Dec 2025)	Multi-category spenders
Hong Leong Wise Card	Up to 15% on e-wallet reloads (RM15/month)	EV drivers paying via charging apps/e-wallets*

*Eligibility depends on how the transaction is coded; not all charging sessions may be recognised.

Which Cards Offer The Highest EV Charging Rewards?

Some banks now treat EV charging as a recognised spending category. These cards offer the highest savings and are the best options for regular EV drivers.

The CIMB PETRONAS Visa-i stands out as a permanent solution:

• Infinite-i: 12% cashback on EV charging at PETRONAS and Setel, capped at RM60/month
• Platinum-i: 8% cashback with a lower spend requirement, capped at RM50/month

Both ensure that charging earns the same reward rate as petrol.

Maybank’s myimpact Visa Signature card is positioned differently, taking on a more eco-friendly focus:

• 8% cashback on EV charging, public transport, and repair services
• Valid April–Dec 2025, capped at RM35/month
• From 2026, drops to 1% cashback
• Best for: Drivers who like a card that rewards more than just charging

Alliance Bank has also entered the space with Malaysia’s first EV-focused credit card, the JomCharge Visa Virtual Credit Card. At launch, it offered a 20 percent rebate on JomCharge charging sessions, capped at RM30 per transaction, along with RM100 free credits for new users. While those promotions may change, its positioning as the country’s first dedicated EV card shows how banks are beginning to design products specifically for EV drivers.

Do Petrol Cards Work For EV Charging?

Most fuel cards do not automatically reward EV charging because it uses a different merchant code from petrol. Unless a card issuer specifies otherwise, an EV charge will not qualify for petrol cashback.

Why does this happen? Credit cards classify every transaction with a Merchant Category Code (MCC). Petrol stations usually fall under MCC 5541/5542, while EV charging has its own category, MCC 5552. Unless your bank includes MCC 5552 in its rewards list, your EV charging session won’t count as “fuel.”

The RHB Shell Visa Credit Card only gives cashback on petrol purchases at Shell stations, but it also provides up to 5% cashback on e-wallet reloads such as GrabPay, Touch ’n Go eWallet, Boost, and ShopeePay. Since many EV charging apps rely on e-wallets, this makes it more useful than a standard petrol-only card.

Maybank’s PETRONAS Visa Gold And PETRONAS Visa Platinum cards reward fuel and Setel transactions at PETRONAS stations. EV drivers can also earn rewards when paying for charging through Setel’s CardTerus feature. Keep in mind that charging sessions paid outside of Setel will not qualify for rewards.

CIMB’s PETRONAS Visa-i explicitly includes EV charging alongside petrol and Setel transactions, making it reliable for PETRONAS users. Maybank myimpact also covers EV charging, but only through December 2025.

Best General Cards When EV Rewards Aren’t Available

Not every EV charging session earns cashback. If a transaction is not coded as EV spending or petrol, most cards will only give the base rate. In these cases, general cashback cards can still help, but the rewards are smaller.

The UOB ONE Card is available in Classic and Platinum versions. The Classic requires a minimum spend of RM800 a month to unlock 10% cashback on petrol, groceries, dining, and Grab. Each category has a cap of RM10, giving a maximum of RM40 cashback per month. The Platinum requires RM1,500 monthly spend for the same 10% cashback, with a higher cap of RM15 per category, or RM60 in total. Eligible transactions include petrol purchases and Setel CardTerus payments. For EV drivers, it is important to note that Setel CardTerus only earns cashback for fuel. EV charging is coded separately and does not qualify.

Cards with e-wallet benefits often perform better. The Hong Leong Wise Credit Card includes e-wallet reloads in its 15% cashback categories, which can apply when topping up apps like JomCharge or Touch ‘n Go for EV payments.

Rewards Through EV Apps And E-Wallet Top-Ups

Many EV charging networks in Malaysia rely on apps or in-app wallets. Credit cards that reward e-wallet top-ups are therefore useful for drivers.

The Alliance Bank JomCharge Visa Virtual Credit Card gives 8× Timeless Bonus Points on e-wallet reloads, adding to its direct JomCharge rebates. Hong Leong Wise also covers e-wallet reloads under its 15% cashback categories.

CIMB PETRONAS Visa Platinum-i and CIMB PETRONAS Visa Infinite-i treats Setel app top-ups the same as fuel, meaning cashback applies whether the balance is used for petrol or EV charging.

E-wallet policies are changing. Grab now charges a 1% fee when you reload using credit cards. If more apps follow suit, using credit cards for e-wallet top-ups might become less worthwhile.

Smart Strategies To Maximise Your EV Charging Savings

These are some proven tactics Malaysian EV owners use:

1. Match your card to your charging habits

• Charge mainly at PETRONAS? → Get CIMB PETRONAS Visa Platinum-i or CIMB PETRONAS Visa Infinite-i
• Use multiple networks? → Consider Maybank myimpact or Alliance JomCharge
• Charge everywhere? → Hong Leong Wise for e-wallet flexibility

2. Stack your discounts

• Use CIMB-Visa cards at TNB Electron stations for up to 22% off (until Dec 2025)
• Combine app promotions with credit card cashback
• Take advantage of new user bonuses (like Alliance’s RM100 free credits)

3. Plan around promotional periods

• Maybank myimpact’s 8% rate only lasts until December 2025
• TNB Electron discounts end December 2025
• Sign up for cards during bonus periods

4. Use multiple cards strategically

• Different cards for different charging networks
• Rotate cards when you hit monthly caps
• Keep a backup general cashback card for unlisted stations

5. Stay informed on new offers

• Banks are rapidly expanding EV benefits
• New charging networks are launching regularly
• Partnership deals offer  limited-time bonuses
• Follow RinggitPlus! We’ll let you know about all new credit card EV charging deals and offers

New EV Benefits From Banks

Banks are starting to go beyond cashback and design full EV-focused packages.

CIMB has aligned its PETRONAS Visa-i to cover both petrol and EV charging, showing how traditional fuel cards are adapting. Maybank is building a broader EV ecosystem. Through its InCharge programme, customers who finance EVs with Maybank Islamic receive charging credits with partners such as ParkEasy and Gentari, as well as complimentary insurance or takaful for home chargers.

Partnerships are also shaping the payment experience. TNB Electron, CIMB, and Visa have rolled out contactless payment terminals at charging stations. Until the end of 2025, CIMB cardholders get 10% off, Visa cardholders get 12%, and CIMB-Visa users enjoy a combined 22% discount.

RinggitPlus Credit Card Recommendations For EV Owners

Your charging location often determines your best card choice:

For PETRONAS users 

Best Option: CIMB PETRONAS Visa Platinum-i or CIMB PETRONAS Visa Infinite-i

• Permanent 4 – 12% cashback depending on spend tier.
• Works for both petrol and EV charging
• Covers Setel app transactions

For multi-network chargers 

Best options: Maybank myimpact (short-term) 

• Maybank offers broader coverage but expires Dec 2025

For flexible chargers 

Recommended: Hong Leong Wise

• 15% on e-wallet top-ups works across multiple charging apps
• Permanent benefit with good monthly cap

Use RinggitPlus comparison tools to calculate which card saves you the most based on your actual monthly charging spend.

For the latest updates on credit card rewards and EV charging benefits, follow RinggitPlus on our WhatsApp channel for expert analysis, deals and offers.

• TAGS:
• Cashbacks
• Credit Cards
• Electrical Vehicle
• EV
• EV Credit Cards