The Perodua QV-E marks Malaysia’s first fully homegrown electric vehicle, introducing a battery-subscription system
Malaysian automaker Perodua has taken its first serious step into electrification with the launch of the QV-E, short for Quest for Visionary Electric Vehicle.
This subcompact crossover marks the brand’s first zero-emission model and comes with a subscription-based battery plan that trims the headline price, though it’s a hollow saving since you can’t drive an electric car without the very component you’re leasing.
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The QV-E also holds a unique distinction as Malaysia’s first domestically developed electric car. Rival Proton’s e.MAS 7 SUV and e.MAS 5 hatchback are rebadged versions of Geely models, while Perodua has invested heavily in building something original. Development began in 2023, with research and engineering work totaling 800 million ringgit (around $194 million).
Everything started with a scale model of the EMO (Electric Motion Online) concept in May 2023, followed by the EMO-I hatchback mule a year later and the EMO-II crossover concept that surfaced in December 2024. By May 2025, the design had matured into a running prototype, giving the public its first clear look at what would eventually become the production QV-E.
Compact Footprint, Coupe-SUV Looks
At 4,170 mm (164.2 inches) long and sitting on a 2,680 mm (105.5-inch) wheelbase, the QV-E blends compact dimensions with a sport-leaning stance. Its front end features sharp split LED headlights, a contoured hood, and muscular fenders.
The silhouette bears some resemblance to the previous-generation Toyota C-HR and the current Nissan Juke, particularly around the windowline. The front door handles are flush with the bodywork, while the rear ones are hidden on the C-pillars.
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Moving to the rear, the sloping roof meets a full-width light bar and integrated diffuser. The crossover rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels and comes in only two shades for now: Ice Blue and Caviar Gray.
Plain Interior
Inside, the dashboard plays it safe, leaning more toward functional than inspiring. A pair of 10.25-inch screens, one for infotainment, the other for instruments, cover the basics without breaking new ground.
The floating center console, ambient lighting, and aluminum-look trim do their best to lift the mood, though the overall impression still feels more cost-conscious than cutting-edge. Safety is well covered with six airbags and a full ADAS suite.
A Single Powertrain Option
The Perodua QV-E sits on a modular platform developed with assistance from Magna Steyr. Power comes from a single electric motor rated at 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 285 Nm (210 lb-ft) of torque, driving the front wheels for a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 7.5 seconds.
The lithium iron phosphate battery, supplied by China’s CATL, has a capacity of 52.5 kWh and claims up to 445 km (276 miles) of range under the optimistic NEDC cycle. The catch, of course, is that this essential piece of hardware isn’t actually included in the car’s price.
Buy The Car, Lease The Battery
The Perodua QV-E starts from 80,000 ringgit (equal to $19,400 at current exchange rates), but owners will have to pay an additional 275 ringgit ($67) per month for the battery as part of a nine-year lease contract.
Perodua CEO Zainal Abidin Ahmad says the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model ensures “a lifetime guarantee on the battery for our customers’ peace of mind,” calling it a way to reduce ownership anxiety often tied to electric vehicles.
Production is set to take place locally in Malaysia, starting with 500 units per month before ramping up to 3,000 by the third quarter of 2026. Bloomberg reports that Perodua aims for 50 percent local parts content by early 2026, rising to 70 percent by 2030.
Electric vehicle adoption in Malaysia continues to gather pace, with the government targeting EVs to make up 15 percent of new car sales by the end of the decade.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio
