Malaysia’s first homegrown EV, the Perodua QV-E has been introduced with an interesting business model.
The Perodua QV-E, Malaysia’s first homegrown Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) was launched today in the presence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The vehicle is priced at RM80,000 and that is without insurance and more importantly without battery. The vehicle was developed as part of the national car company’s agenda to develop a sustainable EV ecosystem in Malaysia.
Performance and Battery Specifications
The QV-E is a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicle powered by an electric motor and a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) High Voltage (HV) battery. The platform was developed in partnership with Magna Steyr and there were other partners involved in the battery, motor, and management system.
The single front-mounted motor has an output of 150kW and 285Nm of torque. It can go from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds, but Perodua say it has to be in Sports mode to do this. It has a max speed of 165km/h.
The LFP battery used has a capacity of 52.5 kWh and an operational voltage of 367V. It is liquid cooled and has IP68 water and IP69 dust resistance. The QV-E can support 6.6kW AC charging (8 hours from 0-100%) and 60kW DC fast charging (30 minutes from 30-80%). It has an estimated NEDC range of 445km.
New Platform and Dimensions
The QV-E’s platform can be reconfigured to suit multiple body types within the A-B segment, including Hatchback, Sedan, Sportback, and SUV models. The platform has potential for Hybrid and REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) variants. The body is a sleek Sportback design with the following measurements:
- Length is 4,170 mm.
- Width is 1,800 mm.
- Height is 1,502 mm.
- Wheelbase is 2,680 mm.
- Kerb Weight is 1,600 kg.
- Ground Clearance is 158 mm.
Exterior and Interior Styling
Exterior Styling features sleek horizontal headlamps that extend across the front fascia. It has a gracefully sloping roofline and a horizontal rear light that reinforces stability. Key Exterior Features include 18-inch tyres, Double Projector headlamps, Flush front door handles, and an Emblem Tailgate Outside Handle. It features all-around sequential turn lights (headlamp, rear combination lamp, side mirror).
Interior Styling is a blend of modern sophistication with a horizontal architectural design. Key Interior Features include a floating console with added storage, E-Rotary Gear Shift Knob, Power Driver Seat, 10.25 inch Display Audio Head Unit, 10.25 inch TFT meter combination, Ambient Lighting, and a Two-spoke, Flat Bottom Steering wheel.
Safety and Connectivity Highlights
The QV-E is equipped with extensive safety and smart technology under the Perodua Smart Drive Assist system.
Advanced Safety Features include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Highway Assist (HWA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Auto High Beam (AHB), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Other Safety Systems include 6 Airbags, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Surround View Monitoring (SVM), SOS call, and Driving Video Recorder. Child Presence Detection (CPD) is a safety technology that alerts the driver if a child has been left in the car, detecting vital signs via radio wave. The CPD system triggers a multi-stage alert protocol (horn, hazard flash, app/SMS notification).
Emergency SOS Services integrate eCall (automatic crash notification) and SOS Call (one-touch button) for fast assistance from the PERODUA Call Center and the National Emergency Rescue (MERS 999).
Connectivity features include Wireless Phone Charger, Wireless Android Auto / Apple CarPlay, and V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) function.
Battery as a Service (BaaS)
The Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) Subscription Program is Perodua’s proposed solution to common BEV ownership concerns, such as high upfront price and eventual battery replacement cost. Under this model, the customer owns the car body, while PERODUA retains ownership of the High Voltage Battery. This allows PERODUA to provide a Lifetime Warranty for the battery pack, guaranteeing its performance remains greater than 70% State of Health (SOH).
Furthermore, PERODUA covers the battery insurance, reducing the customer’s yearly cost. For environmental and regulatory peace of mind, the battery must be returned to PERODUA for proper disposal at the end of its life. To manage this, a dedicated Battery Tracker is installed, which helps handle End-of-Life management and ensures a quick rescue team dispatch if the battery is detached from the vehicle or the car is abandoned. If the car is resold, the new buyer is required to sign a new subscription contract for the battery.
While bookings are not yet officially open, you can register your interest here or by downloading the P-Circle app. The vehicle is available in Ice Blue or Caviar Grey. Perodua announced that the annual road tax will be absorbed for the first year. Battery subscription fees are rumoured to be below RM300.
