What does the 1/2/3 mean on my car?

Electric vehicles are commonly referred to as EVs (Electric Vehicles) or pure electric vehicles locally. Among them, the e.MAS series launched by Proton and Perodua's QV-E are currently representative local electric vehicle models. The Proton e.MAS brand covers models such as mid-size SUVs, including the e.MAS 7 and the entry-level e.MAS 5, with the latter priced at RM 59,800 and targeting the economy segment. As Perodua's first independently developed pure electric hatchback, the QV-E adopts a battery-swapping model, featuring a body price of RM 80,000, a 52.5 kWh battery, and a range of 445 km. Additionally, local startups have developed the MyKar 1.0 concept car based on the Honda Jazz and showcased an unofficial Axia Electric prototype. The government aims for new energy vehicles to account for 20% of new car sales by 2030. Currently, electric vehicle sales are growing significantly, with a 112% year-on-year increase in the first half of the year. These developments demonstrate that local automakers are accelerating their electrification transformation through technical collaboration and independent innovation, offering consumers more diversified choices.

The development prospect of electric vehicles in Malaysia is very promising, and significant growth is expected in the next few years. According to market research data, the sales volume of pure electric vehicles will surge by 102.6% year-on-year to 20,167 units in 2025, while the sales of hybrid vehicles will also increase by 20.5%, indicating that new energy vehicles have become the core growth driver of the market. The government plans to raise the sales share of new energy vehicles to 20% by 2030 and build 10,000 public charging piles. Currently, there are over 2,000 charging infrastructure facilities, mainly concentrated in major urban areas. Local assembly (CKD) has become a strategic focus for automakers. Benefiting from the government's tax incentives extended until 2027, brands such as BYD and Xpeng are accelerating their local production layout. Local manufacturers like Proton and Perodua are also actively launching electric models; for example, the Proton e.MAS 5, priced affordably between RM 65,800 and RM 69,800, has received a large number of orders. Although the expiration of tax incentives for fully imported vehicles may cause short-term market fluctuations, policy support, improved industrial chain maturity, and increased consumer acceptance will continue to drive the electrification transformation. In the medium to long term, with the improvement of charging networks, the enrichment of vehicle model options, and the reduction of costs, electric vehicles are expected to gradually become the mainstream travel choice, helping to achieve the national target of 38% penetration rate by 2030.

When choosing between an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle in Malaysia, one needs to comprehensively consider usage scenarios, infrastructure, and policy support. Currently, hybrid vehicles are more popular, with sales reaching 30,796 units in 2024, accounting for 67% of total new energy vehicle sales. Their advantages lie in not relying on charging stations—they can operate purely on electricity in urban areas to achieve low emissions, while relying on fuel engines for long distances to avoid range anxiety, making them suitable for regions where charging infrastructure is still under development. Although EV sales are growing rapidly (a 45% year-on-year increase to 14,766 units in 2024), they depend on the charging network. The government is accelerating the deployment of home, public, and fast-charging stations, and extending tax incentives until 2027, which will improve convenience in the future. If daily travel primarily involves short urban commutes and a home charging station can be installed, EVs are more economical and environmentally friendly; if frequent long-distance travel is required or charging access is limited, hybrids remain a practical choice. Both options qualify for tax incentives, but hybrid technology is more mature and maintenance costs are lower, making it the dominant transitional solution at present.

The battery replacement cost for new energy vehicles varies significantly depending on the vehicle model, battery type, and capacity. For micro electric vehicles like the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV with a 120km range, battery replacement costs approximately 5,000-12,000 Malaysian Ringgit, while the 300km version costs about 18,000-25,000 Malaysian Ringgit. For mainstream family cars, the LFP battery pack for the BYD Dolphin costs around 46,000-50,000 Malaysian Ringgit. The rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3 costs about 126,900 Malaysian Ringgit, and the all-wheel-drive version with a ternary lithium battery costs approximately 172,000 Malaysian Ringgit. For hybrid models such as the BYD Qin PLUS DM-i, a full battery pack replacement ranges from 10,000 to 30,000 Malaysian Ringgit. Among battery types, ternary lithium batteries are 20%-30% more expensive than LFP batteries. For high-end brands like the Tesla Model S, battery replacement may cost 140,000-300,000 Malaysian Ringgit. Owners should note warranty policies—for instance, BYD's first owners receive a lifetime warranty on battery cells. To prolong battery life, avoid maintaining a charge level below 20% for extended periods. When purchasing a vehicle, prioritize models with modular maintenance support or lifetime warranties to minimize long-term costs.

The battery system of an electric vehicle (EV) uses direct current (DC) to store energy, but the charging process involves the conversion between alternating current (AC) and direct current. During charging, the alternating current (AC) supplied by household power sources or public charging piles needs to be converted into direct current (DC) through an on-board or external charger to charge the battery. Therefore, the AC port marked on the charger is the input, and the DC port is the output. Fast charging stations usually provide high-voltage direct current (DC) directly, bypassing the on-board conversion process to shorten charging time. Understanding this principle helps in choosing a suitable charging method, for example, household AC charging is suitable for slow charging at night, while DC fast charging is more suitable for quickly replenishing energy during long-distance trips.