10 best EVs launched in Malaysia in 2023 – Part 1

THE curtains have closed on the year 2023, which seemed like a busy period for the Malaysian electric vehicle market, thanks to the influx of new offerings coming on to the local EV scene.

So without further ado, let’s revisit the 10 most exciting EVs launched in our market throughout last year. Note that the cars in this list is not sorted in order.

Lotus Eletre

There are many reasons to like the Eletre, whether or not you are a fan of Lotus. Firstly, it is the first production SUV for the brand known for its small and lightweight sports cars.

It may be an electric SUV, but the Eletre has what it takes to blow the existing ICE Lotus vehicles out of the water with a total system output of 905 hp and 985 Nm in its most powerful version, the R.

Its rather aggressive exterior design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Eletre’s space-age cabin should leave youe in awe.

Smart #1

After months of teasers, the smart #1 was finally launched last November, offering three variants with selling prices ranging from RM189,000 to RM249,000.

The prices may seem a tad steep but with the #1, you truly get what you pay for. In other words, the #1 is a premium EV with a wide variety of features.

The Pro and Premium variants are equally impressive, with acceleration performance of 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and a range of 440 km. If that’s not enough, the Brabus variant offers a sportier look with red trims and two electric motors.

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin is the Chinese EV manufacturer’s second model to arrive in Malaysia, following the Atto 3. With a starting price below of RM100,000, it is also one of the most affordable EVs in the market.

True to its name, the Dolphin’s exterior design is rather adorable, enhanced by attractive LED signature lights at the front and rear. Its interior space looks unique with a funky dashboard design and vibrant color theme.

In addition to the impressive driving range (410 km to 490 km, NEDC), what’s appealing about the Dolphin is the amount of standard equipment buyers get, which include wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, and ADAS, to name a few.

Rolls-Royce Spectre

This ultra-luxurious electric coupe arrived in Malaysia last September as the most expensive EV in the country,  with a price starting from RM2 million excluding options.

If V12-powered cars like the Ghost and Dawn are sometimes described as “eerily silent”, imagine a Rolls-Royce without an internal combustion engine.

With a 102-kWh battery, the Spectre can drive up to 520 km on a full charge. Charging from 10% to 80% can be achieved in just 34 minutes via a 195 kW DC charger. Interestingly, the Spectre is the first two-door coupe Rolls-Royce to come with 23-inch wheels in almost 100 years.

BMW iX M60

The first electric SAV model in the BMW M portfolio is powered by two electric motors producing a total power of 619 PS and 1,015 Nm.

If that torque figure isn’t high enough, the Launch Control function will boost it to 1,100 Nm to enable the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The maximum speed is capped at 250 km/h.

A 105.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides a driving range of up to 561 km, but with the bonkers ouput, it seems that not many drivers will be able to reach 500 km on a single charge.