Recently we have heard about the announcement of the Proton Saga EV (electric vehicle) and Exora REEV(Range Extended Electric Vehicle) which will come on sale in the year 2013 at a price below RM100,000. Now, there are rumours of a REEV Compact SUV under RM100,000 to be launched soon.

However good that may seem, I believe if the new plug-in hybrid REEV-Proton compact SUVhas the following criteria it would be the best selling vehicle in asia, if not the whole world:-

1.    The most efficient lightweight piston engine generator with the least fuel consumption, also fuel flexible that it can use methanol or ethanol as fuel apart from petrol.

2.      Using the permanent magnet centralized motor to propel the vehicle via CVT automatic variable transmission gearbox with the inherent minimum imput of power but will get the maximum output inherent in the amplification of power by the powerful rare-earth permanent magnets.

3.      Using only the high strength and high tensile but lightweight steel materials for chassis, roll cage and critical components for the reduction of the body weight of the vehicle by more than 40% and also in combination by using strong but lightweight materials on non-critical parts of the body works say by replacing of the body iron claddings with fibre-glass or acrylic mouldings to extend the range of the vehicle by the same percentage.  Also reduction and replacing of the non-critical internal metal fittings and glass windows with the stronger & more durable but lightweight plastic materials such as acrylic but for the slightly more critical components to be replaced with carbon fibre mouldings. Using the most advanced storage batteries say from the dbm or henry chiang who has successfully developed the best and the most advanced longest range highest density from the latest technologies in power storage batteries for EVs & REEVs or for also electric airplanes.

4.       Also there must be an energy recovery system to re-charge the storage batteries from the kinetic energy conversion of the vehicle decelerating and also braking.

5.       The roof of the said vehicle must maintain a sizeable highly efficient solar photovoltaic panel to tap the strong sunlight of Malaysia and South East Asia, either to re-charge the vehicle’s storage batteries when the vehicle is idling but when running these solar converted power shall run the vehicle’s basic electronics without drawing power from the propulsion batteries.

All the best for Proton on this great and cost effective SUV!  The only question left to ask is when will it be launched?