Affordable EVs below RM100k in 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: An electric vehicle (EV) prototype, a collaboration between local and overseas companies is in the works to kickstart EV production in the country in 2016 with a price tag below RM100,000.
Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) CEO Mohamad Madani Sahari (pix) said the EV prototype is expected to be out by September next year with sales of EVs expected to begin in 2017.
This move is in line with the country's target for EVs to contribute 10% of the total industry volume (TIV) or about 100,000 units by 2020.
"One of the key components in achieving the target is how do we enable the people to buy affordable EVs. We're targeting the price to be below RM100,000 so that it is within the reach of Malaysians," he told reporters at the Sustainable Mobility Conference 2014 here yesterday.
Not disclosing the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) involved, Madani said currently two four-seater sedan models are in the plan with a range of up to 300km per charge.
"We're also working with the OEMs to bring in CBUs (complete built-up units) before (introducing) the CKDs (complete knocked-down units). Some of the CBUs that we're working on could maybe see light starting 2015," he said.
In October, Madani said Malaysia will produce not one, but two EVs by 2017 – with one of them likely to come from Proton Holdings Bhd.
Madani said the cheapest EV, even with a complete excise duty exemption, costs RM140,000 for small car and can travel 150km, which is not something that people want to buy. Hence to get EVs propagated, its price should come in below RM100,000.
There is also another project on manufacturing lithium batteries in the country to reduce the cost of batteries and subsequently the cost of EVs and to allow for the leasing of batteries.
He said many countries are subsidising the purchase of EVs but more importantly, the facilitation of the government in assisting the upstream activities of developing batteries, charging stations as well as research and development can effectively reduce the on-the-road price for EVs, which are more sustainable rather than giving out incentives on a purchase basis.
Nevertheless, he said the government is looking at facilitating the upstream development of EVs to reduce the cost of armotisation, as well as looking to incentivise consumers when they buy an EV or a green vehicle.
Besides EVs, MAI is also partnering the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation in Cohesive Mobility Solution (Comos), Malaysia's first EV car-sharing programme, and the electric bus initiative.