MAS 2024: Perodua emo-1 EV Concept – An Electrified Myvi!

Presented in the Perodua booth during this week's Malaysia Autoshow 2024 (MAS 2024) is the new Perodua emo-1 EV Concept.

We continue our coverage of the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 (MAS 2024) happening this week at MAEPS, Serdang, and national carmaker Perodua took centre stage at its booth with a rather interesting concept.

Dubbed the Perodua emo-1 EV Concept, this is essentially the scale model EV study that Perodua showed last year that’s been brought to life in full scale. Moreover, it stands as a platform debuting a working prototype of Perodua’s upcoming electric vehicle (EV) powertrain.

Perodua shared that construction of the emo-1 EV Concept began roughly nine months ago. It adds that the final prototype build shown at MAS 2024 this week was completed with the assistance of an unnamed Australian partner.

Whilst its scale model predecessor was loosely based on the third-gen Myvi, this latest follow-up from which is literally an electrified conversion of Perodua's popular hatch.

From the images sprawled here, you can also see that the emo-1 EV Concept is essentially the third-generation Myvi hatch that’s been converted to an EV. This is unsurprising given that the scale model concept predecessor mentioned was loosely based on said popular hatch.

From the info-sheet propped up at this concept's display, Perodua notes that the study is powered by a three-phased permanent magnet synchronous motor offering a peak outputs of 120 kW (160 HP) and 220 NM to drive the front wheels, thus allowing 0-100 KM/H sprints in about 7 to 9 seconds.

Said e-motor, which is a totally new hardware developed in-house at the brand’s Rawang base, is juiced by an NMC lithium-ion type battery pack with a claimed 57.6 kWh capacity. With each full charge, Perodua says this setup can grant up to 350 KM of travel.

As for charging, said battery can be juiced via 11 kW AC input, which sees 0-100% re-charges attained in slightly over five hours. It also accepts 50 kW DC fast-charging inputs, which sees full re-charges done in a much quicker rate of just over an hour instead.

Under the hood, the emo-1 EV Concept harnesses a front-mounted e-motor rated with a peak output of 120 kW (160 HP) and 225 NM, which is juiced by a 57.6 kWh NMC lithium-ion battery pack that also grants up to 350 KM of travel.

Obviously, the specs of this full-sized working prototype EV differs slightly from what Perodua originally envisioned through its scale model concept predecessor shown last year – 94 HP and 121 NM were quoted. It also adopts a larger battery from the original concept’s 50 kWh unit.

Of course, high and instantaneous torque from this EV conversion comes with a weight penalty, with Perodua quoting the emo-1 EV Concept tipping the scales at 1,400 KG. Nevertheless, this is a sign of healthy progress from the carmaker towards its goal of marketing its first EV by 2025.

Crucially, Perodua has committed to continue developing this study further, and promises an updated version will be shown by end of this year during the upcoming rebranded KL International Mobility Show 2024.

Following this, mass-production of the road-going version of the Perodua emo-1 EV Concept is set to begin next year, with Perodua also poised to market their first EV at an affordable price ranging between RM50,000 and RM100,000.

Perodua CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad (second from right) presented the Perodua emo-1 EV Concept at MAS 2024 yesterday.

Moreover, Perodua also adds that it will devise a new mechanism aimed at ensuring said eventual production version of the emo-1 EV Concept will have better resale value. All of these details are presented via detailed info panels present at Perodua’s booth at MAS 2024 this week.

On a side note, Perodua also took the opportunity to announce it achieved an all-time high sales volume last year (2023). During the emo-1 EV Concept’s presentation, Perodua CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad revealed Perodua shifted 330,325 units in 2023.

Said figure marked a 17.1% rise from Perodua’s sales figures posted in 2022, which was 282,019 units registered. Prior to which, Perodua had revised its sales target of 314,000 units and raising it to 325,000 units – a figure that it surpassed with its 2023 sales figure noted.

CariCarz.com also seized the opportunity to enquire on progress of the long-touted first hybrid production model codenamed D66B. Sadly, Datuk Seri Zainal confirmed that plans for which have been pushed back a year, meaning we won’t see it launch this year.