29 July 2010 - Talk about environmentally friendly cars, Proton already have them. Proton showcased this Proton Saga EV at the Indonesia International Motor Show happening right now. EV Proton Saga has a lithium ion polymer battery which can produce 15 kWh of energy. Battery charging time to reach 6-8 hours. Proton also provides rapid charging version just an hour. Once the battery charge is sufficient to explore Jakarta to Bandung.
Saga EV electric motor performance is pretty tough. Of 000-100 km per hour can be reached by 12 seconds. The maximum speed can reach 110 km per hour.
The quickcharge time seems quite short compared to other EVs that usually take about 2 hours but you have to remember the battery size also seems smaller compared to say, the Nissan Leaf which uses a 24 kWh battery. The Chevrolet Volt uses a 16 kWh battery but it has a range extender.
A red Proton Saga EV Concept shown in Malaysia back in mid-2009 featured a specifications sheet that listed a larger battery – 20kWh, that took up the entire trunk space. In that red car, the battery is able to power the car for about 109km on the NEDC driving cycle.This white Saga EV in Indonesia and that red Saga EV from last year seems to have an identical engine bay, in fact you can see one area in the white car’s engine bay’s firewall that reveals an area of red paint underneath it.
When compared with the Persona car gasoline, the cost of course cheaper. Saga EV for each km only need USD 120 only, or Rp 3.6 million per year while the Persona USD 360 per km, or Rp 10.8 million per year.
Another advantage is the owner of the Proton EV was not necessary to the gas station. Charging the battery is done at home or at work. Practical is not it?
This electric technology does not only apply to only Saga, Proton plans as stated by Proton Holdings Berhad Managing Director Dato 'Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir will install an electric motor to the other Proton cars.
Meanwhile, for its application in Indonesia, Proton requested the preparation of the government's electricity infrastructure.
