Proton Emas (Eco Mobile Advance Solution)

This is a Proton Concept car that was premiered at the Geneva Motor Show today. This a car developed by Italdesign Giugiaro for Proton. Italdesign Giugiaro have been responsible for designing some cars for Toyota, Alfa, Volkswagen and Hyundai. A concept car means that this car is a prototype of all the future technology or design that might be used for cars developed for the road. We won't get the exact same car, but most of the technology and some design cue will make it on the road. EMAS or Eco Mobile Advance Solution is car that will be developed for Malaysian and the world.

This is the front end of Emas, a 5 door hatchback

This the side view of the 5 door hatchback

The rear view

This is the Emas Country, a rugged SUV like 3 door hatch

This is the Emas3, at only 3 meters long, it rivals Smart Fortwo. Instead of carrying 2 passengers, Emas3 can carry 3 passengers. The perfect city car.

You can park practically anywhere with a car this size.

This is the interior of the car. Notice the slot for your Iphone or Ipod Touch. Nice!

Proton Emas is a series hybrid. Yes, it has an electric motor, batteries and engine. Unlike the world famous hybrid, Toyota Prius, which uses the electric motor, engine or both to drive the car, Proton Emas engine is only used to charged the batteries when its runing out of power. According to the engineer using battery only, the car can travel 50km before the engine cuts in a supply power.

Basically, to explain how the car works in a crude way is like this. Imagine those Pasar Malam (Night Market) electric generator, put it in the engine bay of your car. Then take a few batteries and place it in under the front seat of the car. The taken an electric motor and put it in the bonnet of your car.

The electric motor will draw power from your battery and you car will be like a golf cart, whizzing quietly on the road. Once the battery is low, the generator will kick in an recharge the battery. Like any generator, you have no control on the engine speed since it will run constantly to charge the batteries.

5okm does not sound much, but in reality its really quite enough for most people, even if you do travel 100km a day, half of your trip will run on battery power alone. You can charge the car, just like how you charge your handphone.

I can't wait for this to become a reality. I need a new car soon to pass my Viva to my brother :D