With a petrol car, the classic Singapore to Genting route is simple.
Breakfast at Yong Peng, ice cream at Ayer Keroh, last toilet break at Kuala Lumpur, then just chiong up the mountain without thinking about fuel.
With an electric vehicle, suddenly the range, charger locations, charger speed, and whether someone is already using that charger all become part of the equation, so planning becomes a must instead of a nice to have. We even need to do a recee trip to check out the range of the EV car.
That one is only driving to UK farm at Kluang.
We also tried to research information online, but most of the details were quite vague.
We read that some drivers with the same BYD Atto 3 could reach Kuala Lumpur with no charging stop, then charge once and go up Genting, but nobody really showed exact battery percentage, distance, and where they actually stopped. So going up Genting, we really did not know how many percent we needed, how much buffer was safe, and whether we would find chargers free along the way.
A lot of uncertainty, and frankly, a lack of clear information.
So this is why we are sharing our full itinerary and every charging stop here, with actual distance, battery consumed, and arrival state of charge.
It will not be perfect for every EV and every family, but at least it gives you a concrete glimpse of what to expect if you drive a similar car on the same route.
TLDR version with all the charging numbers is here if you just want the essentials: Where did we Charge for our Genting EV Road Trip.
6.00 am – Meet at Petron Gelang Patah
The day started early at Petron Gelang Patah RNR after clearing Customs.
This was the usual regroup point to top up snacks and bottled water, go for a final toilet break, and make sure everyone in the convoy was ready before the real highway driving started.
7.30 am – First charge at Ayer Hitam
Consumed: 58 %
Distance: 175km
After driving about 175 km from Singapore, the Atto 3 reached Ayer Hitam with 42% battery left, which roughly points to a usable range slightly above 300 km in rainy, fully loaded conditions.
Charging was planned to 80% for efficiency, but since it was raining and everyone wanted more buffer, the charge was extended a little to 87% before moving off.
8.20 am – Breakfast at Yong Peng Oriental Memories
At around 8 am, everyone admitted they were hungry, so the plan changed on the fly to have breakfast at Yong Peng Oriental Memories.
The original thinking was to go to Tanggak for Breakfast while I do my 2nd charge.
But plans changed.
Charging first at Ayer Hitam, which has multiple DC fast chargers, then detouring to Yong Peng for breakfast became the safer and more relaxing choice.
So if you are planning anything,
10.30 am – Charging at Ayer Keroh Caltex (RNR)
Consumed: 65%
Distance: 135km
Ayer Keroh Caltex at the RNR was a last minute addition and not part of the original plan because there is only a single DC charger on that site.
Still, the group decided to risk it because it was more than an hour of driving away and everyone preferred fewer, slightly longer stops.
On arrival, there was indeed a car already charging and that felt very sian, but luckily it was already at above 80% and the owner returned within 10 minutes, freeing up the charger.
So very heng.
While the car was charging, everyone grabbed an A&W snack break.
The kids were already asking why they were eating again, but having food and toilets nearby made the wait feel much shorter.
1.00 pm – Charging and lunch at AEON AU2
Consumed: 45%
Distance: 123 km
Instead of stopping at the Shell charger near Bukit Jalil, the plan shifted to AEON AU2.
The logic was simple, eat a proper lunch while the car fast charges instead of sitting around at a petrol station with only fast food options. Shell there mainly offered McDonald’s, which the group was already a bit sian of.
Charging to 100% here made sense because the next leg included the Genting climb, and it is always more reassuring to head up the mountain with a full battery and a comfortable buffer for traffic and weather.
Drive up to Genting Highlands
The drive up to Genting was done cautiously because of rain and the usual mountain bends.
About 10 minutes before reaching the top, a thick fog rolled in and reduced visibility, so speeds dropped and everyone focused hard on the road.
The Atto 3 handled the climb smoothly with its instant torque, and the contrast with an old petrol car was obvious because there was no more loud high rev vroom vroom sound, only quiet electric pull up the slope.
3.45 pm – Arrival at Genting
Consumed: 30%
Distance: 42 km
Arrival at Genting around 3 plus in the afternoon was just nice for hotel check in.
Unloading luggage and then driving off to park took some walking because the car park was in another block, so there was a bit of a maze of going up to one level that matched another block’s level and then taking a lift back down again.
Once everyone settled in, it was time to rest in the room before hunting for dinner at SkyAvenue.
6.30 pm – Dinner at Imperial Treasure
Dinner was at Imperial Treasure, a reliable choice with xiaolongbao and other familiar dishes. The kids enjoyed the dumplings and noodles, and after a long and wet travel day, having something predictable and comforting for dinner was exactly what the group needed.
7.30 pm – Free entry to outdoor theme park
On the way back to the hotel, a pleasant surprise appeared, the outdoor theme park was offering free entry after 6 pm. Being typical Singaporeans, the group immediately went in to make full use of it.
There was a Santa Claus photo taking session, some artificial snow fall experience for the kids, and a Christmas themed sing and dance performance to watch before calling it a night.
It was a fun and very shag first day, and everyone knocked out quickly once they reached the room.
Day 2 – Genting Premium Outlet shopping and kids fun
Sunny weather and free cable car ride
Day 2 turned out to be the perfect day for outlet shopping, because the weather stayed sunny before more rain arrived in the following days. The plan was to head down to Genting Premium Outlets by cable car, which itself is a highlight for kids and adults because of the views.
The group got lucky again because a friend’s mum, who is a high roller, had more than enough points for a free cable car ride. The kids absolutely loved the ride, and the adults also enjoyed the cool breeze and chance to take photos while gliding down the mountain.
Roaming, Starbucks, and babysitting
Once the shopaholics went into battle mode at the outlets, the non shoppers took on babysitting duty. The kids spent time drawing and playing quietly while the writer walked around, checked out the stores, and settled down with a Starbucks frappe to simply sit and relax.
This balance of some people shopping and some people chilling made the day feel less rushed and more like a proper holiday rather than a shopping marathon.
1.30 pm – Lunch at Madam Kwan
By 1.30 pm, the kids were hungry, so lunch was at Madam Kwan. The kids menu looked attractive and the food delivered on taste, with kids meals that came with side dishes pairing nicely with pasta. The prices, however, reminded everyone that Genting is still a tourist area, with kids meals around RM18 and a drumstick nasi lemak at RM22.
Even though it was not cheap, the overall experience was positive and the kids ate well, which matters more on a long holiday.
4.00 pm – Bouncy castle and new attractions
In the afternoon, the group discovered a bouncy castle area that was perfect for letting the kids burn off energy. Some adults took turns staying with the kids there, while others walked off to explore the rest of the complex.
Compared to two years ago, Genting now feels more packed with children friendly attractions, including SnowWorld, a go kart area, an indoor playground, and the bouncy castle zone. The Ridley area at level 4 still felt quite unattractive, but overall there was clearly more to do for families.
Dinner and 11.00 pm supper
Dinner that evening was some Japanese food, which tasted pretty normal and did not stand out much. Everyone ate enough but no one was particularly excited about it.
Later that night, while trying to put the kids to sleep so the adults could sneak off to the casino, supper cravings hit.
The original idea was to order Marrybrown fried chicken, but by the time a friend went to recce, the outlet was closing at 11 pm, so chicken dreams were dashed.
The fallback was KFC, which came with a long queue of almost 20 minutes, but the reward was fresh, hot, and very shiok Malaysian KFC that again reminded everyone how much better it tastes compared to the average outlet in Singapore.
Day 3 – Indoor theme park day
Rainy weather and day passes
As expected from the forecast, Day 3 was a rainy one, which made it the best day for fully indoor activities. The plan had always been to do the indoor theme park on one of the wetter days, so everything lined up well.
The group bought one day passes for the kids and structured it as one adult for every two kids, which helped save some money while still maintaining supervision.
This arrangement allowed some adults to rotate out for coffee or to roam around while others were on child duty inside the theme park.
Rides for younger and older kids
Height limits meant that the youngest kids did not have many suitable rides, but they still enjoyed gentle classics like the flying dumbo ride, the carousel, teacups, and the ferris wheel. Slightly taller children had more options, including bumper cars and a slow ride at the top level that circled the area.
Even with some restrictions, the kids were happy because there was enough colour, lights, and motion to keep them entertained for hours.
2.30 pm – Lunch at Grand Cha Chaan Teng
Lunch at 2.30 pm was at Grand Cha Chaan Teng, which was already considered lucky because finding seating for a group of 13 is not easy.
The menu was what you would expect from a Hong Kong style cafe, with options like chicken rice for kids, noodles, and duck rice plus other typical dishes for adults.
The food quality was average but the pricing sat on the higher side, which is common for Genting dining. Still, it filled everyone up and did the job between ride sessions.
Afternoon nap and evening hotpot
After lunch, the younger child, meimei, was brought back to the hotel for a nap. The goal was to prevent her from over chionging, which could easily lead to crankiness or even falling sick. She managed a solid rest, and once she was settled, it was time to head back out to meet the group at the dinner spot.
Dinner was at Beauty In The Pot around 7 pm.
The combination of super cold mountain weather and hotpot was perfect, especially because the restaurant seating was semi outdoor and more exposed to the cool air than a typical mall outlet.
The group was again lucky to get seats, although they had to split into a table of nine and another of four.
The meal was satisfying, and the bill was actually quite reasonable compared to Singapore pricing, giving a good sense of value instead of tourist trap vibes.
Day 4 – Dim sum, arcade, and bowling
11.00 am – Nostalgic dim sum at Lao You Ji
Day 4 was declared a super relax OTOT day. The kids were allowed to sleep in, and everyone headed out only around 11 am to look for brunch. The chosen spot was Lao You Ji, a very nostalgic Cantonese style dim sum restaurant.
The group ordered the usual suspects, har gao, siew mai, lo mai gai, and other comforting staples. The main drama came from the tea order. A request for Ju Pu, a mix of chrysanthemum tea and pu er, led to a quote of 46 ringgit that was misheard at first as 16 ringgit. After the shock, the group decided to go for normal tea instead, which still cost around RM25, or about 7 Singapore dollars, which felt very steep for tea.
Afternoon roaming and Marrybrown Chicken
After dim sum, the kids roamed the mall and played some arcade games to burn off energy, while the adults browsed or simply walked off the heavy brunch.
Along the way, a Marrybrown outlet presented itself, and there was no more excuse not to finally try it.
The wait time was not short but still manageable, and the freshly fried chicken was quite yummy.
However, it was also obvious that Marrybrown drew fewer customers than KFC in the same complex, which matches the general pattern that Malaysian KFC is extremely popular and often rated higher than Singapore KFC by many people.
6.30 pm – Dinner at Jom Street Makan
Dinner at Jom Street Makan around 6.30 pm turned out to be one of the best meals of the entire trip. The KL Hokkien mee was outstanding, even though it required about a 15 minute wait, and is highly recommended as a must try dish if you do not know what to order.
The claypot rice was also good and complemented the Hokkien mee nicely. This meal felt especially satisfying because it combined solid taste with a cosy atmosphere, unlike some more generic theme park food options.
9.00 pm – Bowling under neon lights
The night ended with bowling at a very cool bowling centre. Instead of the usual bright and clinical lighting, the place was dark with neon lights, which made it look and feel more modern and fun. It was also very kids friendly, with a slider ramp to help younger kids roll their bowling balls down the lane.
Games were surprisingly affordable at RM9 per person per game, which is much cheaper than typical bowling prices in Singapore. The group played two games but felt as if they played many more, because they spent a lot of time helping the kids with their frames while still trying to focus on their own scores.
Day 5 – Departure and drive back to Singapore
Morning and downhill regeneration
Departure SOC: 68%
Distance: 22km
Arrival SOC at the bottom: 71%
Day 5 was departure day after four full days of activity. The outdoor theme park remained on the future list, partly because the kids were still too young for many rides and partly because the weather had been rainy on and off.
Breakfast for the kids was kept light, just in case they got motion sick on the way down the hill.
Because of rain and a bit of laziness, the car was not charged at Genting before leaving.
The Atto 3 started the descent with 68% battery and an indicated range of over 200 km. Interestingly, after driving about 20 km downhill, the state of charge increased to 71% and the energy usage showed minus 3.7 kWh, which is a clear demonstration of how regenerative braking on EVs can recover energy on steep descents.
We tested some of the features going downhill. The Automatic Hill Descend control is crappy. It like on first 1st gear all the way and zero regen. So after trying out, I just off it.
I am not sure if sports mode or ECO mode has the most regen. But could be ECO mode.
11.45 am – Lunch at Hakka near Seremban
By late morning, it was time for an early lunch stop at a Hakka style eatery near Seremban, chosen because it was close to the planned charging stop. The minced pork noodles and fried wantons were simple but satisfying, and the kaya butter toast added a nice local touch to the meal.
The idea here was to finish eating first so that once charging started, the group could focus on shopping and walking instead of feeling hangry at the charger.
12.15 pm – Charging at Lotus Seremban
Arrival SOC: 44 percent
Departure SOC: 100 percent
Distance: 114 km
The next key stop was the Lotus supermarket at Seremban, which hosts a DC fast charger and even has an IKEA inside, making it a very convenient place for EV road trippers to recharge both car and humans. Charging from 44 percent to 100 percent gave more than enough buffer for the long stretch to Ayer Hitam and beyond.
While the car was plugged in, the group explored the supermarket and IKEA, turning what could have been a boring charging wait into a relaxed mid day outing.
3.00 pm – Charging at Ayer Hitam (southbound)
Consumed: 87%
Distance: 186 km
After an estimated 186 km of driving from Seremban, the car reached Ayer Hitam southbound with 13% left, which was within the calculations done earlier for a safe arrival.
We actually push abit further for an RNR with ice cream, but there is only 2 chargers. So fortunately we came here. Because if 5 chargers are almost full. I cannot imagine the RNR with 2 chargers.
The DC charging hub there has several chargers, but the surrounding amenities are basic, mostly limited to petrol station offerings and toilets, so the stop felt more functional and less fun.
We were again extremely lucky to be the fifth car at a five DC charger hub, meaning every charger was in use.
Charging took about an hour, partly to ensure enough buffer and partly to give the car a little rest before the final leg.
5.30 pm – Dinner at Tian Lai Seafood, Bukit Indah
The final proper meal of the trip was at Tai Lai Seafood Restaurant in Bukit Indah.
The food was decent and everyone left satisfied, but parking was quite a challenge. Even on a Tuesday evening, the car park was around 90 percent full, and circling for a lot took some time.
Compared to the usual favourite Yi Jia Seafood just five minutes away, Tai Lai was fine, but Yi Jia still holds the top spot in the group’s preference list.
9.30 pm – Home with 26 % SOC
After dinner, it was time to hoot straight back to Singapore.
There was no more need for any petrol station visits or fuel top ups, only a silent cruise back across the border.
Arrival home was around 9.30 pm with about 26% battery left, enough for the next day’s errands without immediate charging stress.
This marked the end of the first EV road trip to Genting, proving that with the right planning and a bit of flexibility, an electric vehicle like the Atto 3 can handle the journey comfortably while still leaving room for plenty of makan, shopping, and kid friendly fun.