Real EV Charging Cost per 100km: e.MAS 5, e.MAS 7, Atto 3, Model Y, Model 3 & Zeekr 7X (2026)
For every model in this comparison, charging at home on TNB's overnight rate is the cheapest way to run an EV in Malaysia in 2026. The gap between home charging and public DC fast charging is roughly 4-5x, not a marginal difference, and it holds true whether you drive a RM59,800 e.MAS 5 or a RM230,000 Zeekr 7X. Model choice matters less than where you plug in.
The 60-Second Answer: Home Charging Wins on Every Model
Across the six models we could verify with official battery and range figures, home charging on a TNB off-peak rate costs between roughly RM3.05 and RM4.20 per 100km. The same 100km on a public DC fast charger costs between roughly RM15.70 and RM21.90, depending on the car's efficiency and the operator's rate.
Model (variant) | Home TNB off-peak | Public AC | Public DC fast |
e.MAS 5 Premium (40.16 kWh) | RM3.34 | RM11.15 | RM17.30 |
e.MAS 7 Premium (60.22 kWh) | RM3.97 | RM13.20 | RM20.55 |
BYD Atto 3 (60.48 kWh) | RM3.40 | RM11.35 | RM17.65 |
Tesla Model 3 RWD (57.5 kWh) | RM3.05 | RM10.10 | RM15.70 |
Tesla Model Y (57.5 kWh) | RM3.40 | RM11.40 | RM17.70 |
Zeekr 7X Standard (75 kWh) | RM4.20 | RM14.05 | RM21.90 |
Two models often cross-shopped against these - the iCAUR V23 and the JAC J5 EV - are left out of the cost table on purpose. Neither brand has published an official kWh/100km efficiency figure for the Malaysian-spec car yet, and we won't estimate a number we can't attribute. If you're deciding between one of these and a model above, message us on WhatsApp and we'll walk through the real-world numbers as they become available.
Battery Size and Real Efficiency, Model by Model
Cost per 100km is simply efficiency (kWh consumed per 100km) multiplied by the electricity rate. Bigger batteries don't mean higher running cost - efficiency is what actually drives the bill, which is why a Tesla Model 3 with a 57.5kWh battery costs less to run than a Zeekr 7X with a 75kWh pack.
Model | Battery (kWh) | WLTP range (km) | Efficiency (kWh/100km) |
e.MAS 5 Premium | 40.16 | 325 | 12.4 |
e.MAS 7 Premium | 60.22 | 410 | 14.7 |
BYD Atto 3 | 60.48 | 480 | 12.6 |
Tesla Model 3 RWD | 57.5 | 513 | 11.2 |
Tesla Model Y | 57.5 | 455 | 12.6 |
Zeekr 7X Standard | 75.0 | 480 | 15.6 |
The Proton e.MAS 5 Prime's smaller 30.12kWh pack (225km WLTP) works out to a similar 13.4kWh/100km, so its per-100km cost sits close to the Premium variant shown above. The e.MAS 7 range extends further at the top: the Premium Plus's 68.39kWh battery covers 450km WLTP, per Proton's official launch figures.
What This Costs You Over a Month
Assume a typical Klang Valley commute of around 1,200km a month - roughly 40km a day. Here's what that looks like charged entirely at home versus entirely on public DC fast chargers.
Model | Home monthly (RM) | Public DC monthly (RM) | Monthly saving (RM) |
e.MAS 5 Premium | 40 | 208 | 168 |
e.MAS 7 Premium | 48 | 247 | 199 |
BYD Atto 3 | 41 | 212 | 171 |
Tesla Model 3 RWD | 37 | 188 | 151 |
Tesla Model Y | 41 | 212 | 171 |
Zeekr 7X Standard | 50 | 263 | 213 |
A Guru Swift Advance home wallbox pays for itself in charging savings within months for most of these models, on top of the convenience of never queueing at a public station. Installation for a landed home starts from RM1,590 for single-phase or RM1,650 for three-phase, quoted per project once a Wireman assesses your supply.
The one mistake to avoid: buying the EV first and treating public DC fast charging as your default plan 'for now'. At RM150-RM260 a month more than home charging for the same distance, that habit quietly costs more over a year than most home wallbox installations - and it's the single most common regret we hear from EV owners who call us six months after delivery.
What This Means for Your Charging Decision
For homeowners
If you have a dedicated parking bay at a landed or gated property, a home wallbox turns your cheapest charging option into your default one - see our landed home installation guide for what a Wireman checks before quoting.
Higher-efficiency models like the Tesla Model 3 RWD cost less per 100km at every price point, which matters most if you're a high-mileage driver commuting daily.
Larger-battery, lower-efficiency SUVs like the Zeekr 7X or e.MAS 7 Premium Plus benefit the most in absolute RM terms from switching off public DC charging, simply because they consume more per 100km.
For JMBs, property managers and corporates
Residents charging exclusively on public networks are paying 4-5x more than they would on a shared condo charging setup - that's a strong argument for approving EV charging infrastructure at your AGM.
Businesses installing chargers for staff or visitor car parks can offset costs against the Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA), available until 31 December 2026 - see our commercial charging solutions page for eligibility.
Bulk-metered condo installations need load studies most public installers skip - our condo and JMB page covers the ST compliance and shared-tariff questions committees ask most often.
FAQ
How much does it cost to charge a BYD Atto 3 at home in Malaysia?
Based on the Atto 3's 60.48kWh battery and roughly 12.6kWh/100km efficiency, charging at home on TNB's off-peak rate works out to about RM3.40 per 100km, versus roughly RM17.65 per 100km on a public DC fast charger.
Is Tesla Supercharger cheaper than charging at home in Malaysia?
No. Public DC fast charging, including Tesla's Supercharger network, is priced for speed and convenience, not for being the cheapest option. For a Model 3 or Model Y, home charging on TNB's off-peak rate costs roughly a third of the public DC rate per 100km.
Which EV in Malaysia has the lowest charging cost per 100km?
Among the models we could verify, the Tesla Model 3 RWD has the lowest cost per 100km at every charging method, thanks to its 11.2kWh/100km efficiency per Tesla's official specifications - roughly RM3.05 at home and RM15.70 on public DC.
Do I need a home charger if I only drive short distances?
If you drive under 40km a day, a standard 3-pin socket may cover your needs, but it charges far slower and isn't designed for daily EV loads. A dedicated wallbox from our home wallbox range still pays back through overnight off-peak rates and frees you from relying on public chargers entirely.
How much can a condo save by installing EV chargers instead of relying on public charging?
For a resident driving 1,200km a month, the saving is roughly RM150-RM210 per car per month versus public DC charging, based on the models compared here. Multiply that across a building with dozens of EV owners and the case for JMB-approved infrastructure becomes clear - browse examples on our portfolio.
Sources & assumptions
Battery capacities and WLTP ranges for the e.MAS 5 and e.MAS 7 are from Proton's official launch specifications as reported by paultan.org's spec comparisons.
BYD Atto 3 battery and range figures are from carbase.my and Zigwheels' Malaysia-market listings.
Zeekr 7X battery, range and charging figures are from Zeekr Malaysia's own brochure as reported by autobuzz.my.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y battery and efficiency figures reflect Tesla's published specifications for the current Malaysia-market variants.
TNB off-peak rate is assumed at approximately RM0.27/kWh under the domestic Time-of-Use structure - check your own TNB bill, as tariffs are reviewed periodically.
Public AC rate is assumed at RM0.90/kWh and public DC fast charging at RM1.40/kWh, illustrative averages across operators such as Gentari, JomCharge and ChargEV - actual pricing varies by operator, location and time.
Monthly cost estimates assume 1,200km of driving per month and no additional charging losses beyond the vehicle's stated efficiency figure.
iCAUR V23 and JAC J5 EV are excluded from the cost tables because no official Malaysia-spec efficiency figure was available at the time of writing.
If you want these numbers run against your own driving pattern, parking setup and TNB account type, we'll do a free site assessment and quote your installation on the spot. Get your installation quote or browse the full charger range before you decide.
