Zakirin
It is widely assumed that electric vehicles (EVs) are significantly cheaper to maintain compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.For Perodua’s first foray into the EV market, this rings absolutely true.
Perodua claims that the all-new QV-E will only cost around RM1,400 to service over a five-year period.Let’s break down the exact numbers, compare them against popular ICE models like the Myvi and X50, and see how it stacks up against its closest EV rival, the Proton eMas 5.
The QV-E’s 5-Year Maintenance Schedule
Looking at the official service schedule, owners will be paying RM1,416.08 over a period of five years.
Service intervals for the QV-E are on a straightforward yearly basis.At every visit, the vehicle undergoes a standard inspection and a cabin filter replacement.Every two years, the Electric Drive System (EDS) oil—presumably for the reduction gear in the transmission—and its drain/fill plugs are replaced.In the fifth year (or 100,000 km), the EV requires a coolant change.
While Perodua hasn’t explicitly listed individual part prices for every interval, the breakdowns can be deduced based on the total:
| Interval | Key Replacements | Estimated Parts Cost |
| Every 1 Year | Vehicle inspection, Cabin filter | RM 32.80 |
| Every 2 Years | Electric Drive System (EDS) oil, drain & fill plugs | RM 211.20 |
| Year 5 (100,000 km) | Coolant change | RM 142.80 |
EV vs ICE: Comparing with Myvi and X50
To put the RM1,416.08 figure into perspective, we can compare it to the maintenance costs of traditional ICE vehicles over the exact same five-year period.
Bringing the “King of the Road” into the conversation, the Perodua Myvi costs RM3,368.70 to maintain over five years.This makes the Myvi nearly 138% more expensive to service than the QV-E, largely due to frequent engine oil changes and mechanical components that EVs simply lack.
When compared to a more complex, turbocharged ICE vehicle like the Proton X50, the gap widens drastically.The X50 costs RM5,048.70 over five years (which includes a RM147.57 drive belt replacement at month 66 or 110,000 km), making it 256% more expensive to maintain than the QV-E.
| Model | Powertrain Type | 5-Year Maintenance Cost | Difference vs QV-E |
| Perodua QV-E | Electric (EV) | RM 1,416.08 | – |
| Perodua Myvi | ICE (Naturally Aspirated) | RM 3,368.70 | + 138% |
| Proton X50 | ICE (Turbocharged) | RM 5,048.70 | + 256% |
The EV Rival: Proton eMas 5 Maintenance
How does the QV-E compare against another local EV? The Proton eMas 5 offers a much more detailed service schedule but operates on “irregular intervals” rather than a strict yearly cadence.
Where the QV-E adopts a 12-month interval, the eMas 5’s servicing looks like this:
| Interval | Mileage | Key Replacements | Parts Cost |
| Month 3 | 5,000 km | Reduction gear oil swap | RM 117.33 |
| Month 15 | 25,000 km | Cabin filter (recurring every 12 months) | RM 41.22 |
| Month 27 | 45,000 km | Brake fluid (recurring every 2 years) | RM 53.61 |
| Month 39 | 65,000 km | Reduction gear oil change | – |
| Month 51 | 85,000 km | Coolant change | RM 127.41 |
Long-Term Tally and Road Tax
When stretching the timeline to a longer ownership period, the costs between the two national EVs are neck-and-neck.The final tally for the QV-E over nine years is RM2,520.48.Meanwhile, the eMas 5 over a roughly equivalent 123-month period costs RM2,492.34.The QV-E is just RM28.14 more expensive over the long haul.
However, road tax is where the eMas 5 pulls ahead, thanks to its lower-output motors.
| Model | Motor Output | Long-Term Maintenance Cost | Annual Road Tax |
| Perodua QV-E | 150 kW | RM 2,520.48 (Over 9 Years) | RM 160 |
| Proton eMas 5 Prime | 58 kW | RM 2,492.34 (Over 123 Months) | RM 30 |
| Proton eMas 5 Premium | 85 kW | RM 2,492.34 (Over 123 Months) | RM 60 |
Massive Price Cuts and RM16.5k Refunds
Beyond standard running costs, the QV-E’s actual purchase price has seen major adjustments following a lukewarm initial reception.
In June 2026, Perodua introduced significant price cuts and added an option for outright purchase.For early adopters who bought the car at its RM80,000 debut price, Perodua showed massive goodwill by refunding them the RM16,501 difference.
Currently, the QV-E is being offered with a limited-time RM6,500 rebate (valid until September 30, 2026).The Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) monthly leasing fee has also been permanently reduced from RM275 to RM215.
| Purchasing Option | Current Price (after RM6,500 rebate) | Monthly BaaS Fee | Total Drop from Launch Price |
| With Battery Leasing (BaaS) | RM 63,499 | RM 215 | RM 16,501 |
| Outright Purchase (Battery Included) | RM 87,499 | None | – |
Even with an outright purchase, the QV-E sits at RM87,499, making it about 20% more expensive than the top-spec Proton eMas 5 currently on sale.
