Proton hybrid car in 2 to 3 years

Proton LogoProton will be collaborating with automotive component suppliers who are involved in producing hybrid components like Bosch to develop its own hybrid cars, which could be ready for the market in 2 to 3 years time. Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal said this would enable Proton to avoid reinventing the wheel, plus it could learn from those who already have the technology.

Bosch is currently has a 50:50 joint venture company called SB LiMotive with Korea’s Samsung. SB LiMotive Co Ltd is based in South Korea and is involved in development and commercialization of lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars. As for the rest of the components related to a hybrid system, Bosch has that covered with electronics, battery management, and motors.

Source

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • maibatsu_thunder (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 10:42 am

    When HMSB brought in the first batch of the 7th Gen Civic Hybrid and gave 2 units to PDRM. Soon after Proton bought one unit and had it serviced at Kosmo Honda in Glenmarie. Just around that time they issued a statement to the press that they would be developing a Hybrid car. Should be very interesting if they can bring a low-cost Hybrid vehicle in for Malaysian customers.

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  • maibatsu_thunder (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 10:43 am

    That was in October 2003 if I remember correctly.

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  • dodgeviper88 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 10:50 am

    I’m sorry to burst the bubble but isn’t this abit of a wishful thinking? Proton can’t even make a reliable electric window and you wanna talk about developing a hybrid? Granted that they’re using Bosch technology and what not, but it require a lot more R&D than just bolting an electric motor onto a car. And I’m tired of them throwing around reputable brands like Lotus just to make them look more worthwhile; it is still just a Proton. They’re just as desperate as Chrysler stating that their car is equivalent to a Mercedes Benz when the merger was still on.

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  • kingv6 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 11:12 am

    Proton should just do a “rebadge” of any hybrid car and claim their own. That would be a safer bet…

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  • knight_templar (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 11:22 am

    Proton hybrid car in 2 to 3 years

    YA…. and im gonna create jet packs to the moon in 6 days. Bolehlanders are already going through hell; it was probably more comfortable in detention camp. The last thing we need is a bloody national car maker having a circus to show what freak show it can put up to avoid foreign takeover.

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  • torque (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Everyone knows since Proton under DSZ management, they do getting better. It may not be much for someone but there is even a little. “If” Proton does deliver their promises by producing this hybrid cars, doesn’t it benefit us all? Don’t compare the window reliability and the hybrid technology? Why? Not from the technicality area but more of it’s ERA! We all know la the reliability of Proton power window happen in Tengku Mahalel era, NOT DSZ era of management. I know this b’coz my family used to own Iswara, Tiara, Wira and a Satria (me) in our life. Under DSZ management, I can see a good vision and progress came from him. Just give the guy some time! Question is, what we have got to lose? As for Proton hybrid cars, all I can say is…you are welcome! Peace.

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  • LHQ (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    hybrid=high tech
    high tech=high price,
    in conclusion, nobody will buy expensive Protons.
    Hybrid isn’t Proton’s game yet, perhaps they should more concern about
    the Tata Nano.

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  • zanggief (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    Can Proton challenge hybrid giant like toyota, honda….that had started 2nd generation hybrid system……

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  • MisterBenjo (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    why so negative thinking….proton run faster also bash? a basher will always be a basher.

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  • yippi33 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    when proton ventured into a new technology, some of us said better stick with the old ones..cant even design a good electric window n such..but when Kia or Hyundai ventured into sports car technology, some of us said proton is lazy and starts comparing 23years this and that still dont have a car sports..i think thats explains the Malaysians culture eh??pening…

    i say that its a good move by going hybrid..who knows proton will be able to produce cheap, affordable and reliable hybrids..my opinion is to produce hybrids for small car segments such as savvy, saga etc..that way, it is possible to achieve lower cost and also target a large segment of consumers..

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  • kerelbort (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    who need sports car at this time around? with high fuel price..

    good that proton venturing into hybrid.. and maybe can collaborate on electric car… but clearly.. half of Paultan reader doesn’t know much about world issue..

    power windows problem? still got aa? logged ur problem with iCare lah.. why u come here and b1tch about it? sure wont solve ur problem lah..

    i believe in SZA to give us good hybrid car.. 4.6l/100km.. can i have one please.. thanks..

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  • xsaraloeb (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Proton under DSZ have done more to achieved the goals which shd be done many years ago by the malaysia drift king’s daddy. What his daddy did was actually the opposite of DSZ…ie mass production with low QC pass. but that daddy have a nice up trend Putra…remembered it was yellow in colour with all Mitsubushi items.

    Proton hydbrid shd hv been done 3 years ago. But how they will do it i don’t know as until today the Perdana replacement engine is still in “design stage”…and they also came out with MPV ….which I can bet will be based on Mitsubishi Grandis …..lower specs la.

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  • farghmee (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    hybrid i like.
    let Proton do what it can do.
    if good, better for us.
    if less good, work harder!

    membujur lalu melintang patah :)

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  • torque (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Kerelbort,

    Only MOST Malaysian doesn’t need a sports car. Why? Because HERE the price of the cars and the fuel is high! In other countries example Britian, they are really cautious about the fuel consumption since the price of the fuel there is quite high. Still, if you went there you could see a lot of a nice cars including sports car. Most of them purchase this sports car are merely for spirited weekend drive but not for daily drive. They could counter it by just using their very efficient public transportation which we here in Malaysia still fall behind. In my opinion, Proton doesn’t need (in hurry) to produce a sports car for the mass market. All they got to do is to focus on the niche market here like what R3 did with their Neo R3 edition (I know it’s not under Proton). All that cars sold out in a couple of weeks. The reason is simply to show to all Malaysian that they CAN actually do it which they already did with their great Satria Neo Super 2000 Rally Car! A 2 liter n/a engine producing 280 bhp…come on, doesn’t that make you proud? I’m sure does and one day if Proton does get on their feet and actually produce a sports car…I’ll be there! Buying and supporting them.

    Still, I agree with the whole power window thing. It’s getting old…and DSZ did a good job by minimize the problems. Peace!

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  • torque (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    sorry…* lots of nice cars

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  • goguncas71 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Still with the power window stories. Newer Protons don’t seem to have p-windows issues anymore – I know as wife and brother both use Gen-2s.

    But Hybrids are a scam – that’s the truth. Most people who buy one remark how the fuel savings are nothing like advertised. Notice when local mags were given the white Civic hybrid, not dared to do a comparo with a stock civic, say a trip to Penang and back and compare fuel consumption?

    Lets face it, a Hybrid uses the electric motor for low speed propulsion with juice taken from the battery. But what charges the battery? Braking charges to battery. So unless you travel in town with lot’s of start-stops, you’re not going to get the savings. If your commute is mostly highways don’t be surprised if your fuel consumption is HIGHER due to the fact that 99% of the time you’re running direct from the engine but all the while carrying hundreds of pound worth of batteries and motors…

    Proton can do a Hybrid, it’s not rocket science -the EVE proves that but are people willing to pay for it when the savings are minimal?

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  • MisterBenjo (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Torque..i also want proton to produce sports car…but u must understand the current condition…proton is swimming in the sea with lots of giant fish…they really need to produce mass market model to save its ass.then sports car can come later…dont worry they have lotus.

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  • torque (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    MisterBenjo,

    I know that since I stated Proton doesn’t need (in hurry) to produce a sports car. They have a bigger problem to face right now. They need to cater to their mass market first. Even lots of people wanted Proton to replace the old perdana and I hope they can produce it after the MPV is out. Anyway, they may own Lotus but still we have to pay a high price if we wanna own it! Plus, a hybrid model could do some favor to them to turn the company around…IF they were to sell it in a reasonable price.

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  • ly60 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Hopefully the hybrid come out faster. Reliabilty and quality we evaluate later. It is good that they tied up with some foreign partners. I too like to drive sports car but what to do, proton need to tackle their mass market first.

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  • bmpower (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    Malay said:
    “buat salah, tak buat pun salah”.

    now just kill the basher lah.. that easy then..

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  • ideoteque_85 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    1. that is exactly what i want to hear. hybrid engine.

    2. proton has to start somewhere to get ‘there’.

    3. constructive critiques are as important.

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  • ALPINA BMW (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    hybrid? they can’t even make a proper normal car

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  • mystvearn (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    People seem to forget that Hybrids are so expansive to run. Sure they give you better mileage, but the batteries don’t last that long and to replace it is quite expansive. Its like if you need to weigh your yearly travel distance before considering to buy one.

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  • AmiR (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    they should start doing car running on battery !!…hyrid for wat?

    petrol price will go higher soon…forget the G crapping bout subsidi n stuff..

    i mean, time look for alternative source d.hybrid still uses petrol to run…. we dont want to depend on oil anymore…if they can, we can..=D

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  • mokkf82 (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    come on, give proton a try.
    And enough for that proton power window thing, my boss vios power window got stuck after a months driving it, so don’t compare the power window thing with a hybrid. It’s the different thing.
    Now proton is trying to get more technology from Bosch, so think of the stuff they/ we might get if proton have more collaboration with hi-tech companies like bosch or samsung.
    They learn and learning is what entential to make their cars better.

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  • csv (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    and the cows jump over the moon.

    i still think they should fix their current problems before embarking on any ambitious journey.

    learn to walk before flying.

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  • rajtheboss (Member) on Aug 05, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    Good luck to Proton. The Lotus EVE hybrid has some good features that proton can work on with. Let Lotus do the job rather than use our local monkeys.

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  • Porkbutcher (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 12:35 am

    Dear ALPINA BMW (aka JULIANLEE),
    Stop bashing here and there la. Give us your suggestions and get a better life.
    Cheers.

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  • fastcx (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 1:02 am

    before any1 give further comment, i would like to hear about proton’s current problems, as many ppl said “fix current problem 1st la, b4 tis n tat blah blah blah”…im really sick of all these comments, talk like u know a lot, show us what u know la? k? say, what is proton current biggest problem? or is it just another typical malaysian trait? just talk but no reason behind it?

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  • ideoteque_85 (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 3:03 am

    hybrid engines are not only because of the current gas prices but also because of more and more people are aware of the earths diminishing oil bank. we need an alternative source to power our engines.

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  • The Unicons (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 9:15 am

    It has been quite a while I didn’t post any comments here already. So many new topics since the last time I post.

    I’m not sure why there are so many negative thinking and comments when topics about Proton is posted. Some are reasonable and acceptable but some just a blind bashing comments.

    I do agree what Malay said “buat salah, tak buat pun salah”. I still remember last time some people complained why Proton still doesn’t produce any Hybrid cars when many car manufacturers like Mercedes Benz, BMW, Toyota, Honda and so many others already produced hybrid cars. Proton still far left behind. Laughing and teasing on Proton.

    Now, Proton already give the statement that their 1st hybrid car will be in another 2 to 3 years time. Then these people complain again by saying Proton even cannot produce good “normal car”??? What is this???

    Proton is improving even though still got problems. Tell me what car have no problem one? Even the Aston Martin DBS is hard to drive. Honda already stop producing its Accord hybrid long time ago because of high maintainance costs and the selling units also not as good as what Honda management had been expected. So, you think only Proton only have bad product(s) or bad quality cars? You guys can ask those drive or drove Mercedes Benz E Class (for example W210 model), many of them also have problems with the car and some not of course. It just like Proton. Even current Mercedes Benz, BMW and others still produce car with some defects. Some people really facing problem(s) with their car and some not. What can I say…. perhaps the luck?

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  • The Unicons (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 9:16 am

    By the way, I also agree what ideoteque_85 said above.

    “hybrid engines are not only because of the current gas prices but also because of more and more people are aware of the earths diminishing oil bank. we need an alternative source to power our engines.”

    Good point!

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  • Realeyes (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 9:21 am

    This is a good news as P1 has started thinking ahead. But I wonder why mechanical energy from moving car has not used in charging the battery?

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  • fastcx (Member) on Aug 06, 2008 at 10:04 am

    realeyes: they us brake to regen electric, if all moving mechanical energy u hv to harvest, is the power u gain give u more? cz from my opinion, if u need to harvest the energy, u need friction to convert moving energy to electric energy, m i right? perhaps they r testing on which give them the best charging

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