Shah Alam – Melaka – Port Dickson – Shah Alam… without recharging

When Proton began planning for the introduction of its first fully electric vehicle, it looked at not just the vehicle itself but also at showing Malaysians that it would not be troublesome owning and using an EV. PRO-NET, its subsidiary dedicated to New Energy Vehicles, looked at the various issues in motorists’ minds and their concerns.

One of the main concerns has been what is known as ‘range anxiety’ – the worry that the battery will run out of electricity and there is no recharging station nearby. It’s the equivalent of running out of petrol, except that when you run out of petrol, at least you can get a lift to a petrol station – and there are many all over the place – to get fuel and come back.

You can’t do that with an EV and until technology is so advanced that the battery can be recharged using a portable powerbank like how you recharge your phone, an empty battery will be really inconvenient.

The automakers understand this and have been working hard to improve battery technology and storage capacity. These advancements are occurring quite fast and the range with today’s EVs has doubled, on average, from 10 years ago with some models having even triple that range – on a single charge.

Recently, PRO-NET put a Proton e.MAS 7 to a range test to show that it is possible to travel quite a distance without worry. The route it chose was from its headquarters in Shah Alam, Selangor, to Melaka and then returning via Port Dickson to Shah Alam. The total distance covered by the e.MAS 7 Prime was 352 kms, which was slightly better than the official figure of 345 kms. In fact, there was even a range of 43 kms with the remaining battery charge when the journey ended.

Journey live-streamed
The exercise was carried out by joined PRO-NET’s product experts and key opinion leaders in EV mobility and streamed live online, a first for a Malaysia automotive brand. Viewers gained insights as Salawati Mohd Yusoff, Chief Branding Officer of PRO-NET, discussed essential aspects of EV ownership and the advanced EV technology of the e.MAS 7.

Real-time information
Throughout the journey, the drivers were able to get real-time insights on the performance, the power flows, battery efficiency and energy management on the large display panel.  Furthermore, with the Live Charging Map integrated with the navigation system  – the only one of its kind in Malaysia – they could locate the increasing number of charging stations nearby as they went along the route.

Collaborating with leading Charge Point Operators such as including Gentari, JomCharge, chargEV, and DC Handal, Carput Zap and ChargeSini, this map shows over 1,900 charging points around the country. That’s 85% of all the public chargers in the country at this time.

“This journey proves that an EV can seamlessly fit into any lifestyle – whether commuting to the office, managing daily errands as a busy parent, running a small business, or embarking on long-distance trips and sightseeing adventures. While many worry about range anxiety, but this test drive demonstrated just how far the Proton e.MAS 7 can go, delivering confidence as a conventional car. We’re excited to see more Malaysians embracing electric mobility and are committed to making the transition smooth for everyone,” said Puan Salawati.

Get an e.MAS 7 to balik kampung
With the Hari Raya festival coming up, wouldn’t it be nice to do the balik kampung drive with a Proton e.MAS 7? Certainly, being an EV, it would be the centre of attraction at home. PRO-NET says that those who order the e.MAS 7 Prime (priced from RM105,800) now can get one before Hari Raya.

On March 15 and 16, Proton e.MAS dealerships will be having a Raya Ikonik celebration and there will be exclusive deals, exciting activities, and you can a closer look at the future of electric mobility. Click here to locate a Proton e.MAS showroom.

Switching to the EV life with the Proton e.MAS 7 Prime