Perodua QV-E modular platform to spawn smaller, cheaper EV – hybrid and range extender possible too

The Perodua QV-E, billed as Malaysia’s first homegrown EV, was officially launched yesterday. We’ve covered the project extensively through the episodes, and have posted not just on the car (deep dive here), but showed you all of the ancillaries such as the P-Circle app, P-Charge Mobile ‘powerbank’, the P-Go smartwatch and the AC wallbox that has a CCTV and screen. Click the links to read more.

The QV-E’s RM80k price plus battery leasing scheme caught some by surprise, although that figure for the EV’s ‘body price’ has been reported before, with P2 sticking to its planned RRP even after Proton eMas 5 pricing was revealed.

There are cheaper ways to market an EV, but Perodua’s responsibility as an automotive sector ‘champion’ under Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 is to catalyse the growth of a local EV ecosystem.

Perodua QV-E modular platform to spawn smaller, cheaper EV – hybrid and range extender possible too

“Thus, the selected OTR price, design and specifications are the result of balancing the needs of both the government and the Malaysian market. The P01A serves not just the consumer, but it’s a product that will kick-start and accelerate the BEV ecosystem in Malaysia,” Perodua says, adding that the short lead time and lower initial stage localisation directly impacts the QV-E’s price.

Perhaps this is why they couldn’t kick-off with a budget EV for the masses. But a smaller and cheaper EV based on the QV-E’s platform is in Perodua’s plans, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said at the QV-E media preview last month.

“The platform development is not only for this model – longer range, current battery size, or we can adjust and put in a hybrid or REEV (range extender electric vehicle),” he said when explaining the modular nature of the QV-E’s platform, co-developed by Magna Steyr, the Austria-based engineering firm that’s also the world’s most famous contract manufacturer.

Perodua QV-E modular platform to spawn smaller, cheaper EV – hybrid and range extender possible too

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When quizzed about QV-E’s price – which is for ‘M40 and above’ young families with small children and T20 kids, described as ‘children of a rich family, living with parents’ – he said that “we have another model on the same platform, and the other model will have a better pricing than this model.” In other words, a smaller and cheaper model.

In the product presentation, Perodua explained that the P01A is the first of a family of models in the A-B segment, and possibilities range from a 2,550 mm wheelbase sedan and hatchback to a 2,700 mm wheelbase SUV (with a more practical, conventional shape; the QV-E has a 2,680 mm wheelbase and is defined internally a Sportback). Hybrid and REEV powertrains are possible with mid-floor and front beam modifications.

By the way, Magna Steyr has an electric car platform for sale, but the QV-E’s platform is not the Magna EV Platform as that one is made for the C/D-segment and has multi-link rear suspension. So, Perodua didn’t just purchase the rights to use Steyr’s off-the-shelf platform.

Strong bones to work on, as the QV-E is five-star ASEAN NCAP-rated with higher overall and adult occupant protection scores than the upcoming Toyota Yaris Cross – Perodua Nexis/Traz. Full QV-E specs (445 km NEDC range, 0-100 in 7.5s), battery leasing details (RM297 a month for nine years) and mega gallery here.

GALLERY: Perodua QV-E media preview

GALLERY: Perodua QV-E official presentation slides

GALLERY: Perodua QV-E brochure

GALLERY: Perodua QV-E ASEAN NCAP results

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