Cheap EVs for less than RM 100k? Here are the top-5 models

China is the world’s largest market of electric vehicles (EVs), with roughly 1 in 10 new passengers sold in China being a battery electric vehicle (BEV). From January to August, just slightly below 1.5 million BEVs were sold in the Middle Kingdom.

Now, within the first nine months of the year, the best-selling EV in China, by a very large margin, isn’t a Tesla or Geely – it’s in fact this kei car-looking EV called the Wuling Mini EV. Just how many units did Wuling manage to sell? 286,036 units.

Sitting in second position, with a rather massive gap, surprisingly is the Tesla Model 3 with 173,862 units sold – a model that costs nearly 10 times more than the Wuling.

However, the Wuling Mini EV, for all intents and purposes, remains a city use-only commuter car, one that you drive to and from public transport to your home/office, and not the entire journey. Spartan is the best word to describe the Mini EV – it gets one driver airbag and ABS. There’s no traction control or stability control to speak of, never mind ADAS features.

Also Read: Check out Wuling’s new toy car-looking Hong Guang Mini EV

As such, the Wuling Mini EV is more of an outlier in this article, one that serves a very niche purpose.

For everyone else however, here’s the top-5 sub-RM 100k EVs that are better equipped than the Wuling, budget EVs that are more acceptable to Malaysian buyers.

Roewe Ei5 – Chinese buyers love a wagon

The best-selling EV that’s both affordable and well-equipped in China is the Roewe Ei5 – an electric station wagon that’s sold in Thailand as the MG EP.

Also Read: Is this MG wagon poised to be the cheapest family EV in Indonesia?

From January to September, SAIC Motor sold 111,875 units of the Roewe Ei5, putting it between the more expensive Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.

The China-spec Ei5 is powered by an electric motor capable of delivering 184 PS and 280 Nm, with a claimed NEDC range of 501 km. This is achieved using a 61.1 kWh battery pack, which takes just 30 minutes to quick charge (DC) from 30% to 80%.

Safety equipment on upper variants include 6 airbags, stability control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist. There’s also adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree monitor thrown into the mix as well.

In China, the Roewe Ei5 is priced between CNY 128,800 (~RM 84k) to CNY 161,100 (~RM 105k).

Ora Black Cat / Ora R1– Quite possibly the most adorable in this list

Sitting further down the sales chart is the Ora Black Cat (also called the Ora R1). How much further down you ask?

Well, compared to the Roewe’s 111,875 units, Great Wall Motor (GWM), the parent company of Ora, only managed to shift 48,087 units of the Black Cat.

Also Read: Spied: Ora Black Cat in Malaysia, budget EV with 301 km range

GWM offers no less than six variants of the Black Cat in China, with an all-electric driving range between 301 km to 405 km.

Unlike the Roewe, the Black Cat isn’t nearly as powerful. Depending on variant, power output ranges from 48 PS to 61 PS, whilst torque figure is between 125 Nm and 130 Nm. Far from being a powerhouse, this Ora, but it is much cheaper than the Roewe, with prices starting from just CNY 69,800 (~RM 46k), before topping out at CNY 84,800 (~RM 56k).

Mocha U – Futuristic-looking SUV, but will it work?

Sales of the Mocha U – by EV specialist Hozon Motors – hit 41,427 units between January and September. Now, for context, that puts the Mocha U higher up in the sales chart than the BMW iX3 and Geely’s Geometry A and Geometry C.

The Mocha U, for those who aren’t familiar with this model, is a C-segment-sized SUV, with a wheelbase that betters even the Honda CR-V (2,770 mm vs 2,660 mm).

Hozon Motos offers a staggering 12 variants of the Mocha U in China. Depending on variant, power output varies between 163 PS and 210 Nm, all the way up to 203 PS and 310 Nm.

Said company did not reveal the Mocha U’s battery capacity (strange, we know), but the driving range is rated between 400 km and 600 km.

In China, the Mocha U is priced between CNY 99,800 (~RM 65k) to CNY 179,800 (~RM 118k).

Aion Y – Electric MPVs are the future?

The first SUV in this list is the Aion Y, with Aion being GAC’s new brand focused on EVs.

Between April to September, GAC managed to shift 16,673 units of the Aion Y – quite a feat, considering that the model only made its debut in April and was on sale in a shorter period than the other rivals mentioned here.

Interestingly enough, despite being less than a year old, GAC has seen fit to update the Aion Y. Earlier this month, GAC announced that the Aion Y will be receiving numerous updates, including a new Bluetooth-powered keyless entry system, new body colours, as well as an updated cabin.

Seven variants of the Aion Y are offered, with prices ranging from CNY 109,600 (~RM 72k), before topping out at CNY 157,600 (~RM 103k).  

The entry-level variant is powered by a 95 PS, 225 Nm electric motor, capable of delivering a 410 km NEDC range. It is juiced by a 55.5 kWh battery pack.

Upper variants of the Aion Y get a 183 PS, 225 Nm electric motor. Thanks to its larger 63.98 kWh battery pack, the more powerful Aion Y variants can return a 500 km range.

BYD e2 – The sportiest-looking EV in this list

The next EV on this list is the BYD e2 – a subcompact hatchback that is priced between CNY 89,800 (~RM 59k) to CNY 144,800 (~RM 95k).

Within the first nine months of the year, BYD sold 23,266 units of the e2, putting it within the top-20 best-selling EVs in China.

BYD offers five variants of the e2. All variants are powered by a single motor, though with varying output levels and range.

Lower variants of the BYD e2 offer 95 PS and 180 Nm, powered by a 33.2 kWh battery pack, returning a 301 km range. Stepping up the hierarchy and the battery size increases to 43.2 kWh, bumping the range up to 401 km.

Out of these five cars, the only one that's available in right-hand drive format is the Roewe Ei5 / MG EP. The model is currently offered in Thailand and it will soon go on sale in Indonesia.

Question is, would you spend RM 100k on an electric station wagon?