14/12/2025

theSunday Special XVI ON SUNDAY DEC 14, 2025

Malaysia’s own EV Perodua launches QV-E, a new chapter for electric vehicle development

PERODUA has taken a major step into the electric era with the launch of the QV E, its first battery-powered model, priced at RM80,000 before insurance and with out the battery. The new hatchback is the centrepiece of the carmaker’s long-term plan to build a homegrown EV ecosystem, beginning with a vehicle that was designed, engi neered and produced almost entirely in Malaysia. The project required RM800 million in investment and is being built at the com pany’s newly established Smart Mobility Plant. Production is starting modestly at 500 units a month, though Perodua expects output to ramp up to 3,000 units monthly by the third quarter of 2026 once supply chains and vendor readiness reach the next phase of industrialisation. Internally, the QV-E is described as a showcase of what Perodua believes a national EV should be: practical, safe and accessible, yet built with enough technol ogy to remain competitive as electric cars become more widely adopted in the coun try. The model runs on a 52.5kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery and can travel up to 445km on the NEDC cycle, though the

leather seats. The QV-E also features SOS emer gency services, telematics integration, and a range of driver-assistance technolo gies such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keeping functions and a full suite of passive safety systems. The vehicle sits on an all-new platform co-developed with Magna Steyr, designed to accommodate future A- and B-seg ment models with the possibility of hybrid or range-extended EV variants. Under the floor sits the 405.7kg CATL LFP battery pack, rated IP68 and IP69 for water and dust resistance, and liquid cooled for stability in Malaysia’s hot cli mate. A 201hp front motor produces 285Nm of torque, allowing the QV-E to reach 100kPh in 7.5 seconds in Sport mode and achieve a top speed of 165kph. Charging is managed via a 6.6kW AC system that fills the pack in eight hours, while a 60kW DC charger can replenish 30 to 80% in around 30 minutes. Vehicle-to-load functionality is also included.

real-world figure will naturally depend on driving behaviour, temperature and ter rain. Perodua has equipped the QV-E with a broad set of safety features, with one of the most significant being a Child Presence Detection system. Using millimetre-wave sensing, the system can pick up breathing and micro movements in the second row and the footwell, even through blankets, and con tinues to work in extreme temperatures or complete darkness. A three-stage warning sequence activates if a child or pet is left behind, escalating from hazards and SMS alerts to repeated audible warnings. The QV-E targets middle-income households and families looking for a daily commuter or a second car for short trips.

As for the design, Perodua has given the QV-E a clean, modern shape with a confident rear end and a smooth sport back-style profile. The horizontal lighting at both ends emphasises the car’s width, and flush door handles help achieve a sleeker look. Two colours are offered at launch, Ice Blue and Caviar Grey, chosen to represent a more premium EV identity. Inside, the cabin adopts a sporty, hori zontal layout with a floating centre con sole and additional storage underneath. A digital instrument cluster works along side a 10.25-inch infotainment display that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Equipment includes a rotary gear selector, a wireless charger, ambient lighting, powered driver’s seat, a digital rear-view mirror and a set of semi

Proton reveals first plug-in hybrid

E-Power-ed Serena

SINCE its debut in Japan in the 1990s, the Nissan Serena has built a strong reputation in the mid-sized MPV segment. It is known for its ease of use, flexible interior, and depend able performance, qualities that have made it a long standing favourite among Malaysian buyers. The Serena’s focus on practicality and efficiency has helped it remain one of the most respected and best-selling MPVs in the country. Malaysia first saw a hybrid Serena in 2013 with the C26 Serena S-Hybrid, which intro duced fuel-saving technology alongside a cleverly designed cabin suitable for daily family needs. This was followed by the C27 Serena S-Hybrid, which expanded on the for mula with advanced safety technology and user-friendly features that strengthened its appeal among families. The arrival of the sixth generation C28 Serena marks another major shift. The all new Serena e-Power moves to a fully electric motor-driven setup, aiming to deliver a level of performance and refine

ment not usually found in this segment. The change signals Nissan’s intention to push the boundaries of what a family MPV can offer. The MPV uses a drive sys tem built around a 163PS electric motor producing 315Nm of torque, paired with a new 1.4-litre three-cylinder engine that operates only as a generator. This engine, equipped with direct injection and Mirror Bore Coating, is designed to run quietly and with minimal vibration while supplying electricity to the motor or recharging the 1.769kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The e-Power system is fully motor-driven, using a petrol engine only to generate elec tricity rather than to power the wheels. This gives the Serena the responsiveness of an EV without relying on charging stations. It offers qui eter operation, lower emis sions, regenerative braking, and the convenience of sin gle-pedal driving, all while keeping running costs lower than a traditional petrol-pow ered vehicle.

PROTON has shown its first plug-in hybrid car, called the e.MAS 7 PHEV, at the Proton Tech Showcase in Shah Alam. The car is not for sale yet, but this preview shows that Proton is getting ready to enter the plug-in hybrid market for the first time. The e.MAS 7 PHEV is the Malaysian version of the Geely Starray EM-i, a model sold in China. It shares many parts with its fully electric twin, the e.MAS 7. The test car shown to the public has Proton’s large tiger logo on the front and on the glass panels. The car uses a 1.5-litre engine made by Geely. For hybrid use, the engine was changed to make it more fuel efficient. It uses the Atkinson cycle, has simpler parts, and includes a special EGR system to reduce fuel use. The engine also never stops charging the battery unless the wheels need extra help.

makes 99PS, and the front electric motor makes 218PS and 262Nm. Together, they let the car go from 0–100kph in eight seconds. Most of the time, the car runs on electric power, but at higher speeds, a clutch connects the engine to help drive the wheels – similar to Honda’s e:HEV system. The battery is an 18.4kWh LFP unit, slightly smaller than the one used in the Chinese version. It sends power to a 12 in-1 electric drive system with a single-speed gearbox. Proton says the total driving range is 1,065km, though this comes from an easier test cycle. Under WLTP, the model sold in Australia can drive 83km on electric power and 943km combined. This preview marks Proton’s official move into plug-in hybrids, and since the car shown looks close to final form, the full launch is expected to happen soon.

The full P145 hybrid system was also shown. It has no nor mal belts, uses an electric air condition compressor, and replaces the usual alternator with a DC-DC converter. The cooling pump is also stronger than the one used in the Saga. Geely says the engine has a very high 47.26% thermal effi ciency, which they claim is the best in any production engine today. This comes from better and faster combustion inside the engine. For power, the petrol engine