Perodua unveiled its electric vehicle (EV) concept at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 this week, giving the public a glimpse of its upcoming all-electric model that’s set to debut sometime next year. Having attended the event, we decided to give the prototype a closer look.
The vehicle itself, dubbed the emo-1, is actually a 2021 Myvi that’s been converted to feature Perodua’s Electric Motion Online (emo) concept which was revealed the year prior. Externally, it sports the same design as the car it’s based on, but with a flashier white, lime and black livery that’s exclusive for the concept. If this look isn’t something you’d fancy, fret not, as company president and chief executive officer Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad assures that Perodua’s first actual EV model will appear different from what’s currently displayed.
Aesthetics aside, the emo-1 comes with new equipment and internal workings. Gone is the engine under its hood, as with the side view mirrors. The latter is now replaced with the more modern camera equivalent, which are paired with left and right monitors situated on the dashboard inside of the car. Other new additions include a charging port on the left side of the vehicle which replaces the petrol filler neck, and four similarly themed hubcaps on each wheel.
Moving inside, we’re greeted with a mostly familiar Myvi interior, but with several updated parts. The latter includes the aforementioned side-view monitors, a flat top & bottom steering wheel, fully digital instrument panel, a larger central LCD display, and a centre console that runs from the dashboard to the rear seats. The last one is rather questionable, as this limits the number of people allowed in the car to just four.
Specifications-wise, Perodua says the emo-1 is powered by a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor, which delivers 68PS and 220 Nm of torque. Completing the century speed from zero is claimed to take about seven to nine seconds.
Meanwhile, powering the EV is a 55.7kWh lithium-ion battery, which offers 350km of range on a single charge. Speaking of which, Perodua says a full top-up takes over five hours via an 11kW AC charger and just over an hour through a 50kW DC charger.
Development of the emo-1 project began in September 2022, with actual construction starting nine months ago. Perodua states that the vehicle’s three main parts (the power bench, power converter, and overall styling/ design) are made in Malaysia, while the power conversion technology was manufactured with help from an Australian company.
The company aims to showcase an updated concept of its EV towards the end of the year, likely during the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) that’s scheduled to take place in December. Actual production of Perodua’s first ever EV is expected to begin in 2025, with a launch to follow before the year ends. As for pricing, Zainal promises that it will cost between RM50K and RM100K.
In the meantime, those interested can check out the emo-1 concept for themselves by visiting Perodua’s booth at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 that’s currently ongoing at MAEPS Serdang. The event is slated to end on 26 May, which is this Sunday.
(Additional source: Perodua press release)
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