Thinking of an Electric Vehicle (EV)? I have started thinking about it too

Thinking of an Electric Vehicle (EV)? I have started thinking about it too.

Just last year, my good friend and I was talking about EV. I told him that unless the EV’s prices match those of the internal combustion engine (ICE), else I would still prefer to drive a normal petrol car instead. Anyway, my Proton Persona is already 14 years and should reach 200,000km by the end of this year. I have fully paid for the car 9 years ago, so these savings is more than enough for whatever rise in petrol price after subsidy rationalisation. Here’s an earlier article about the petrol price. Malaysia’s petrol price is not sustainable

However, I am looking for a new car for my wife and my 10 year old Exora is touching 230,000km this year. So, maybe it’s time to change and I was thinking of Perodua Alza but now I may just decide on an EV instead. Why do I say so?

#1 – EV price may come down because Proton and Perodua will soon offer EV models starting in 2025

#2 – Seems like we have more and more charging stations

MITI may say it’s 10,000 and perhaps we may not achieve but when we aim at the sky, at least we would still hit the clouds yeah. So, if we give a 30% discount to this number, we will still hit 7,000 stations by 2025… Good enough for me. What about you?

#3 – Range anxiety is lesser now

We are used to range of below 400km currently for the lower end models but if we look at newer launches, it’s usually 400km range or higher and many times, over 500km range too. Well, let’s hope that all the launches next year would be closer to 500km range if not more yeah. Typically, whatever the range stated, we should just think of it as 80 percent to be safe. Thus, if it’s 300km range, then in actual fact, it’s just 240km. This is enough to go from KL to Ipoh but we will need to charge before we leave Ipoh.

Meanwhile, if it’s 500km range for example, then it would be good for 400km range at least. In other words, KL to Ipoh and Ipoh back to KL is perfectly fine. Plus, if it’s 400km I think my wife would only need to charge it once every 10-12 days. So, 3 times of overnight charging per month looks like a good deal. Yes, I am moving to a landed property, so I can just leave it to charge overnight at home every 10 days.

#4 – Petrol will definitely be 50 percent higher if not more

Current price is RM2.05 per litre here in Malaysia. Meanwhile there are not a single neighbouring country selling their RON95 at below RM4 per litre yeah. In other words, the often quoted RM3.50 per litre is very likely once the subsidy rationalisation kicks in. Thus, if our current petrol bill is RM400 per month, this will suddenly balloon to RM600 or higher every month. Thus, suddenly the cost of charging the EV seems comparable if not better…

The latest one I could find is RM2.80 /kwH. Typical car with a 450km range or higher is maybe 40kWh. Thus, it’s RM2.80 x 40 = RM112. Usually, 450km we would need around 40 litres of petrol. Thus, if it’s RM3.50, that’s RM3.50 x 40 litres = RM140 yeah.

I know… someone wants to say but the Perodua Axia 1.0 can travel further! Noted, please proceed to buy Perodua Axia yeah. 😛 The feeling will be very different yeah.

I have not yet decided yeah, we shall see next year

As of now, not really rushing to get a new car. Whether petrol powered or electric powered, a car is a depreciating asset. Some say, it EV’s resale value is likely to be worse because no one is going to buy any EV car which is already 6 years or higher. That’s true also. So, if indeed I am to buy an EV, let’s drive it for 10 years. Haha. Probably the range would be just 60 percent? 450km range x 60 percent is still 270km lah. My wife will charge the car once every 5-6 days. 🙂

Let’s see by 2nd half of next year for all the potential choices. Who knows we may have a few more models to choose from.

Here are the top 10 EV manufacturers based full year of 2023.

No Japanese manufacturers in sight but I think once they come in, they will rise very fast too.

Meanwhile, this should be an interesting proposition since rumour pointed out that Proton’s first EV, eMAS would be from this series.

What about you? Please share your thoughts. Would love to learn more from everyone.

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