New $19K EV car launched internationally with a surprising feature — should it be brought to the U.S.?

The rising cost of electric vehicles continues to put them out of reach for many buyers, as prices have surged over the past few years. Supply chain challenges, higher material costs, and increasingly sophisticated technology have driven new car prices to record highs. In the United States, the average price of a new vehicle has climbed to around $50,000, well beyond what most consumers can comfortably afford. While automakers promise more affordable EVs in the future, cheaper models have been slow to materialize.

Abroad, options arent necessarily cheaper, but at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China, Malaysian automaker Perodua introduced a novel approach to making EVs accessible. Their new compact electric crossover, the Perodua QV-E, has a starting price of approximately $19,400 (80,000 ringgit), making it one of the most affordable EVs revealed in recent years. However, the low sticker price comes with a catch: the battery is not included. Instead, it is available via a subscription plan costing around $67 per month (275 ringgit), which effectively amounts to a nine-year lease, totaling about $7,236 for the battery over that period.

The QV-E is equipped with a front-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower (150 kW) and 210 lb-ft (285 Nm) of torque. Perodua claims a 062 mph (0100 km/h) time of 7.5 seconds, comparable to many compact gasoline crossovers. The vehicle draws power from a 52.5-kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by CATL. Under the NEDC test cycle, the QV-E achieves 276 miles (445 km) of range, though under the stricter EPA cycle, it would likely be around 203 miles, sufficient for daily city driving and competitive in its price segment.

Additionally, the QV-E supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, allowing users to power tools or small appliances directly from the high-voltage battery a feature that is becoming increasingly common among new EVs. The vehicle is built on a platform specifically designed for compact EVs, with Perodua investing nearly $200 million in research and development for its first mass-market electric model. Local production is set to start soon, with an initial output of 500 units per month, expanding to 3,000 units by the third quarter of 2026.

Battery subscription models are not entirely new worldwide. Companies like Nio and VinFast have employed similar schemes to reduce upfront costs, and Renault previously offered battery leases for the Zoe in Europe. While it remains uncertain whether this approach could succeed outside Southeast Asia, Peroduas strategy highlights growing experimentation with alternative EV pricing models to make ownership more attainable.

For U.S. buyers seeking an electric vehicle in this price range, options are extremely limited. Currently, the most feasible alternative is a well-maintained used EV, such as a 2023 Chevy Bolt. In the new-car market, no comparable offering exists from U.S. automakers. Most vehicles under $20,000 in the U.S. are gasoline-powered, including models like the Nissan Versa, starting around $17,000, and the Mitsubishi Mirage. The arrival of a sub-$20,000 EV could significantly change the U.S. automotive landscape.

Author: Noah Whitman