Proton’s announcement that it will be looking to introduce its first production electric vehicle (EV) model by 2027 might sound like a long time coming but Proton once dabbled in EV technology at least ten years ago.
Of course, almost all those past experiments and prototypes were nothing more than scuppered dreams that toyed with Malaysian car enthusiasts when they were auctioned off back in 2020. Despite the Proton EMAS eventually being pulled out of the auction, the same fate can’t be said for most of the other Proton EV prototypes.
Instead of looking at Proton’s future EV promises, which hopefully do not involve rebadging the Geely Emgrand GSe that was spied last week, we decided to look at its past at what could’ve been a massive head start not just for Proton but Malaysia’s automotive industry.
In the late 2000s, Proton’s state in the United Kingdom was dire. The days when it was the fastest-growing brand in Britain in the early 1990s were gone. Switching from outdated but reliable Japanese technology to mediocre Malaysian tech wasn’t winning buyers over.
At a time when electrified vehicles were only confined to hybrids, Proton's solution was unconventional. Instead of the usual petrol-electric hybrid, Proton UK offered another type of hybrid with the Gen.2 Ecologic.
The Gen.2 Ecologic's "dual-fuel" mode allowed users to run on either regular petrol or liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Proton UK was hoping the lower road tax and cheaper LPG prices could win buyers over.
Still, that didn’t turn out well as LPG networks weren’t extensive around the UK despite the greater fuel and tax savings. Hybrid cars were still a better choice for Brits to go around town while still saving on fuel.
CamPro hybrid engine as shown in the 2007 Gen.2 EVE Hybrid Concept
That said, Proton never exactly shied away from hybrids, and instead, it was looking far ahead into the future on fully electric vehicles. Back in 2010, EV technology was still going through some strides and wasn’t as mainstream as it is now. Most that were offered then only gave a limited range and didn't even looked cool.
In 2010, the inaugural Brighton to London future car rally was organised by the Royal Automobile Club. According to its website, the 60-mile (96.5 km) run aims to showcase the new generation of ultra low-carbon vehicles to the public. The awards were given to vehicles that have “made the least energy impact” during the entire run.
It’s not exactly a test of performance endurance but when it comes to an event with the environment as its main mission, speed isn’t really a factor. Proton competed in the event with two vehicles, a Saga EV and an Exora Range Extender EV (REEV).
Both Proton EV prototypes were developed together with Frazer-Nash Research Limited (FNR), a British EV specialist that would eventually be embroiled in a financial crisis that saw it auctioning off Bristol Cars. The company was also tasked to convert Tun Dr Mahathir’s Proton Perdana to become fully electric which laid abandoned in the UK.
But before the financial issues, FNR was behind the team that designed the Saga EV’s battery management system. The Saga EV’s drivetrain consisted of a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor making 70 PS/198 Nm that was powered by a 15.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed 120 km range.
Meanwhile, the Exora REEV came with two electric motors – one on each wheel – that made 95 PS/220 Nm combined and were powered by lithium-polymer batteries. The range extender came from a tiny 400-cc rotary engine that made 50 PS but that didn’t really matter since the engine was merely used to extend the range of the electric MPV.
Triumphant wins for Malaysia
During the inaugural Brighton-London challenge, the Exora REEV took part in the Extended Range EV (E-REV) category while the Saga EV took part in the EV category. The Exora REEV not only managed to complete the route in around 4 hours, it emerged as the winner in its category, consuming only 2.2 litres of petrol.
The winning Exora team all smiles upon reaching London
On average, the Exora REEV manages a fuel consumption of just over 123 mpg or 52 km/l thanks to the small reliance on the engine. The Saga EV meanwhile did not win in its category but managed to arrive in London with “a lot of energy to spare”.
Peep the Persona REEV among the crowd of competition
Following its success in the first Future Car Challenge, Proton took part in the 2011 competition, fielding three EVs with the addition of the Persona Elegance REEV. The electric Persona was powered by the same electric motor-Wankel rotary engine range extender combination as the Exora REEV.
Proton hoped that the Persona REEV would be a major improvement over the heavier MPV and indeed it was. The electric Persona was the first of the Proton trio to cross the line with 8 minutes to spare while the tiny Dorito engine reportedly only kicked in for 4.5 minutes.
That meant the Persona REEV was running on electric power throughout most of its journey far longer than last year’s winning Exora. For comparison, the electric MPV had its generator running for 34 minutes.
Sadly, there were some issues with the data collected, and the Persona REEV was disqualified. Meanwhile, the Saga EV managed to finish with just 2 minutes to spare while the Exora REEV arrived last overall, falling within the allocated time limit.
Yet, despite the results, the Exora REEV bagged two awards at the challenge by winning the Best Overall Extended Range and Most Energy Efficient Multi-Purpose categories. It was enough cause for celebration at the Proton table. Perhaps being last doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all over.
No show or go
The Future Car Challenge would continue for another year in 2012 but Proton was absent this time around. Still, Proton continued to produce a few EV prototypes over the years including the Preve REEV and the Iriz EV but these were never intended to make it to production.
Yet, the Malaysian Tiger’s EV pursuit seemingly gone quiet until news broke that it was auctioning off its EV prototypes and concepts in 2020. The decision to get rid of them might be controversial but the world of EVs has changed a lot since Proton showed their iteration of this seemingly cleaner mode of transport.
Their technology and range would pale in comparison to modern EVs. Still, Proton once showed the world that it had the capabilities to make its own EVs but rather than expanding on the project, it fell by its wayside and was neglected.
The Saga EV, Exora REEV, and Persona REEV once previewed the promising and exciting future Proton could have a foothold in. Sadly, the only physical evidence of these technologies has been sold off and even with Geely in charge, it seems the dream of a Proton EV would have to wait a little bit longer.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
