The Datai Langkawi launches EV charging points in partnership with BMW Group Malaysia
Mr Teh Rong Jung, Mr Tan Ka Kin, Mr Remi Giromella, Mr Sashi Ambi and Mr Ahmad Damanhuri at The Garden.
Guests to experience “Sheer Electric Driving Pleasure” of BMW iX car courtesy of collaboration with BMW Group Malaysia and Tian Siang Premium Auto.
The Datai Langkawi has taken a further pioneering step towards the ambitious sustainability goals of The Datai Pledge, with the installation of two EV charging points in its grand lobby driveway. Anchoring a partnership with BMW Group Malaysia and Tian Siang Premium Auto, the new BMW i Charging points enable guests of The Datai Langkawi to explore the island of Langkawi in an environmentally friendly way – and, for a limited period, to experience the ‘Sheer Electric Driving Pleasure’ of BMW’s cutting-edge iX range of all-electric Sports Adventure Vehicles.
Following an official inauguration on 13 October 2022, guests of The Datai Langkawi can now charge their electric vehicles right at the entrance of the resort, and explore the entire island without worrying about running out of battery. To celebrate the initiative, a BMW iX car will also be available for a limited time for guests of The Datai Langkawi to experience the brand’s signature ‘Sheer Electric Driving Pleasure’.
The Datai Langkawi is constantly evaluating potential partnerships that can support its endeavours to reduce its carbon footprint and work towards enhanced operational sustainability. Arnaud Girodon, General Manager of The Datai Langkawi, commented, “Sustainability and conservation are at the core of our business strategy, and we integrate these values into all aspects of our company ethos, operations, and guest experiences at the resort. Offering this BMW i Charging station to our guests is just one of our many efforts in moving towards cleaner air and regenerative travel, to reaffirm our commitment to protecting the rich biodiversity of Langkawi for generations to come.”
“BMW Group Malaysia has always believed that sustainability is a shared responsibility. As we continue to realise our vision of carbon-neutral mobility in Malaysia through our premium fully electric BMW i vehicles and the expansion of our comprehensive BMW i Charging network, we are pleased to work with likeminded partners, such as The Datai Langkawi. Through this partnership, we hope to provide a premium experience to all guests at the resort, that is both sustainable and responsible.” said Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia.
“With the introduction of our new BMW i Charging facilities at The Datai Langkawi, we are thrilled to be able to bring greater access for electromobility to the island, continuing our efforts of establishing premium charging facilities across the northern regions of Malaysia. The rising interest in electric vehicles and sustainability as a whole, alongside this partnership with The Datai Langkawi, are testament to the viability of Electrified Mobility, no matter where you are.” added Tan Ka Kin, Managing Director of Tian Siang Premium Auto.
The partnership between BMW and The Datai Langkawi is part of the ‘Pure For The Future’ pillar of The Datai Pledge, which aims to place sustainability at the heart of The Datai Langkawi’s business operations. Conceived in 2019 as an effort to embrace the precepts of interconnectedness and interdependence between community and ecosystem, one of the goals of The Datai Pledge is continued evaluation of carbon stock as part of the resort’s ambition to achieve Carbon Neutral status by 2024. In 2021, The Datai Langkawi laid the foundations for becoming a Carbon Neutral destination, setting up the required assessment process in partnership with EarthCheck and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The first part of this project comprises a cross-pillar initiative in which the carbon stock of the surrounding rainforest (i.e. the amount of carbon stored in the forest ecosystem, mainly in the living biomass and soil) is measured. The Datai Langkawi achieved zero waste-to-landfill for the first time in December 2021 and has maintained this for more than 120 days in 2022 up to today; the resort’s carbon footprint negativity efforts also led to 177 metric tons of CO2 prevented from polluting the environment.
Within the framework of the ‘Pure For The Future’ pillar, guests can also join upcycling workshops at The Lab – a building constructed from crushed glass and 7,968 spirit bottles upcycled from the resort’s operations – and learn how to make candles, soap, beeswax wraps and more. The resort also offers guests the opportunity to explore its permaculture garden, where herbs and spices for the kitchen are grown, and the resident beekeeper tends to stingless beehives that produce Trigona Itama honey, renowned for its strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant properties.
