One question came up during a recent technical workshop and Q&A session with Pro-Net and Geely engineers: Can you just use the Proton eMas 7 PHEV like a normal petrol car and never plug it in? The short answer is yes but that is also missing the point entirely. On paper, the eMas 7 PHEV
On paper, the eMas 7 PHEV is designed to be flexible. A 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with an electric motor means it can run as an EV, a hybrid, or effectively as a petrol-powered car.
There are safeguards in place too. The battery is never fully depleted, maintaining a reserve of around 20 to 25 percent as a buffer. Even if the display shows zero EV range, there is still charge left in the system.
This is done to preserve battery health, and it allows the car to continue functioning without relying on external charging. In extreme cases, you could go months, even up to a year without plugging it in, and the system will continue to take care of itself.
As with many things, just because it can do that does not mean you should. Because when you don’t charge it, you’re not really using it to the fullest. The idea behind a PHEV like the eMas 7 is not to replace one system with another. It is to let both work together in the background.