Save on Fuel and Clean Up Planet Earth! 5 Best Electric Cars Available in Malaysia

Electric Vehicles (EV) have long been with us since the 1890s. However, it was not commercially acceptable due to the cost incurred to produce EVs compared to an internal combustion engine car. Fast forward to more than a century later, we find ourselves caught between increasing petrol price and climate change which steer many car manufacturers to venture into the electric vehicle (EV) market. Over the years, the cost of producing an EV has reduced significantly due to technological advancements. We can now find a slew of electric vehicle products in the market. Let’s hop into the top 5 electric cars in Malaysia curated by this author for your reading pleasure!

Hyundai Ioniq 5

With strong and bold lines, this futuristic looking car somewhat resembles a vehicle that travels out of a Si-Fi movie. This car comes with a solar panel built in on the roof which provides extra power; very useful considering the Malaysian weather. The internal build is as fresh as the external; the seats, headlining and carpet are made of sustainable components produced from cane and corn while the leather is dyed using flaxseed oil. This car would catch the eyes of on onlookers from its distinctive looks.

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Volvo XC40

This conventional looking Swedish Small SUV sticks to the design language of Volvo, continuing to rock the 2-tone black roof colour of the current XC-40. There’s no longer a start/stop button for this vehicle, just hop into your car, descend the brakes, engage the gear and you’re ready to go! This car comes with 2 electric motors at the front and back making it a 4-wheel drive vehicle; perfect for off-roading. Known for the extended storage space of its internal compartment, users would be happy to learn that all the storage compartment of this vehicle’s mild hybrid version remains.

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BMW iX xDrive40

iX xDrive40 comes with Android Auto; the first for BMW vehicles in Malaysia. This machine is equipped with 2 motors at the front and back of the axile to provide power to the wheels which pushes up to 322HP and 630 Nm of torque. The battery offers a drive range of up to 425km on a full charge. It is disappointing to see that the warranty only extends to 2 year and users would have to top up for the extra coverage of up to 5 years of warranty coverage.

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Porsche Taycan

This beast finally comes as an EV offered with 3 variants in Malaysia which features all-wheel drive as standard. The entry level variant’s battery provides a range of up to 408km and buyers can choose to upgrade to Performance Battery Plus to get an additional 56km in range. The base model comes with 435PS and 640 Nm of Torque; needless to say, speed is the primary selling point for those who are looking at this brand of cars. However, we may have problems hopping on and off this beast which doesn’t look very different from their petrol version.

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Mercedes Benz EQA

Coming in at just less than RM8,000 premium with the CKD Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 AMG line, both these cars look comparable with the difference being what powers the car and the more futuristic looking front and rear fascia. This CBU front wheel drive machine provides a range of 429km on a full charge. 4 years unlimited warranty and 8 years or 160,000km mileage warranty on the battery pack is included with the purchase. This might as well be one of the best entry level electric cars for a premium brand.

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There you have it, the top 5 electric vehicles of our pick! Electric vehicles have done away with engines and gearboxes which solely depend on electric motors for propulsion; lesser moving parts equates to lower maintenance cost. EVs are also packed with the latest safety features and best of all, no emissions into the environment.
That said, the availability of charging stations remains a huge deliberation especially for potential buyers who don’t live in landed properties. The transition to electricity is inevitable as we move towards the goal of sustainability and fossil fuel consumption to battle climate change.