Malaysian-assembled EV prototype coming Sept 2015

saga ev

A prototype of a locally-assembled electric vehicle will be completed by September next year, according to the CEO of the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) Madani Sahari.

At the public introduction of the COMOS EV car-sharing programme, Madani said that the new car will be a joint venture between a local company and a foreign one, although he declined to name exactly which firms have saddled up for the project.

Could that Malaysian entity be Proton or Perodua (the former had previously collaborated with Frazer-Nash Research to develop its own EV, and was supposed to begin commercialising it this year), or will it be another company that is outside the automotive business?

leaf-battery

Madani also claimed that the first electric bus prototype will arrive around the third quarter of next year. Earlier in the year, MAI signed a collaborative agreement with ARCA Corporation Sdn Bhd, AutoCRC Ltd and Swinburne University of Technology to develop and manufacture an electric bus.

This E-Bus will first see service in Putrajaya and Langkawi, due to their relatively simple routing and range requirements. ARCA Corporation has earmarked an investment of RM200 million spread over a period of four years, with commercialisation of the bus slated to commence in 2016.

Also included in the agreement is the development and production of lithium-ion batteries that will power this bus, and Madani said that they will be built in the first quarter of next year. These batteries will also be able to be used in cars and as energy storage.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Jenglot on Sep 24, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    Tesla the leading EV company has opened their patents, why don’t any of our local manufacturer make use of this instead.

    P1 & P2 can quickly manufacture their own EV sans the R&D cost, the saving plus EEV initiative can help ease the cost for Rakyat, win-win approach, no?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 3
    • kzm (Member) on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Patent is one thing, R&D is one thing..Patent is free but R&D ain’t cheap..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 4
      • Same L0rrr on Sep 24, 2014 at 3:13 pm

        So old topic, Proton EV could be sejarah syllabus already lar. Proton already provide Exora Hybrid in 2010, now only comes prototype… Real car will be launched in year 2030?

        If Proton staff/salesman like Peyno, Ah Beng could dedicate their bashing and talkok effort on helping this EV, the real EV would have been sold on the road for now.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • kzm, jenglot said that P1 & P2 can use the EV patent from Tesla for free to develop EV cars, means lower or even no cost for R&D.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • Smart Buyer on Sep 24, 2014 at 4:18 pm

        Proton Electric car? No thanks.

        But with 30-years warranty, maybe I’ll buy it.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
        • Comment using ur kepala lutut izzit? U go and buy Prius oso Toyota won’t give u 30 years warranty, let alone 10 years.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
      • Jenglot on Sep 26, 2014 at 3:06 pm

        Yeah, I was referring to Tesla move of releasing their patents as an open platform, meaning you can use their technology without paying a single cent to them.

        Elon Musk (Tesla owner) said that he do this because EV in general( Read: the rest of automobile industry, not Tesla) lacking severely in terms of tech progression so he does not mind competitions as long as there will be progress in tech adoption.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • ProtonGSC on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      MAI usually can’t be trusted.
      Another false promise? Let’s wait and see.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
    • izzad on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      it is true that tesla had opened their patent but even with that, trying to suit it to other car designs, local sources, different market environment, different rules and regulations etc. took time, money and extensive research. i have a strong feeling they are now doing exactly that .

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • hopeless car buyer on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:55 pm

      I guess CBU Nissan Leaf will be forced to sell at higher price to protect this initiative.. pity Malaysians!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • KaoPehKaoBu on Sep 24, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    there goes our tax payer money..P1 should just close down..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 15
  • Stop using taxpayer’s money on experimenting rubbish that people won’t buy!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Obviously (Member) on Sep 24, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    It’ll be very interesting if the company in question is not Proton. It very likely will be, considering their prior investment, but if it isn’t, then it’ll be very interesting indeed. An upstart like Tesla in in the making?

    Probably just Proton. Probably fit their EV tech into the PCC or new Saga.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • izzad on Sep 24, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      i truly hope its proton, because it would most likely be iriz if they incorporate it into their cars, and iriz has promising start so far. considering iriz is from proton emas, it would likely that this has been going on a few years. that would be great.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Explosive Lithium on Sep 24, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    Li ion , potong engineer can manage?
    It’s high risk if improper , not well tested.

    Use Li ion on bus?
    It’s a massive bomb.

    Stop wasting malaysian money.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • superman on Sep 24, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    prototype made in UK by Frazer nash again???? is this an old story being told since long time ago? pls stop wasting time and get real and work with professionals. drb never learn

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • car-fans on Sep 24, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Can KaBooOoom ar ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • cendol (Member) on Sep 24, 2014 at 5:26 pm

    Sept 2015 launch?
    Few weeks time is already Deepavali,
    Maybe by next CNY, Potong EEV haven’t launch yet.
    Abuk pun tarak.
    Duit Mau Mintak

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • An ugly car in beautiful London yuck

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • AVH (Member) on Sep 24, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Prototype of a locaally assemble EV by end of next year…. sounds feasible. Using a ready chassis, whats left is too design and test the EV powertrain system in preparation. Now when we say local-company, the immediate assumption is that is either P1 and P2. But It could also meant a Local CKD company like Tan Chong or Inokom. The article didn’t say locally design but locally assembled. So basically the EV prototype, should it be foreign, may end up like Veniucia E30(Chinese-made Nissan Leaf) ,a foreign design but locally sourced and built parts. The prototype would likely test the compatability and reliability of Malaysian made parts and assmbly quality because I am assuming it will be built on a new production line.

    Speaking of Proton:
    http://paultan.org/2014/03/14/proton-hybrid-car-end-2014-miti/
    Well, like all hopefuls, theres 3 more months left, :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Motorhead (Member) on Sep 24, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    EPS?? VSC?? Then try sell at RM24,600..

    No.. kasi chance sikit.. try sell RM26,000 with VSC.

    I ll reserved my big laugh.

    All procong macai statements copied dy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • tikus on Sep 24, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Who dare to buy?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Sep 26, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    if an ev looked like the saga i would be happy to pay for petrol…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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