Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the distributor of Nissan cars in Malaysia, has handed over two units of the Nissan KICKS e-POWER to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for a two-month Proof of Concept (PoC) evaluation programme. During this period, the vehicles will be deployed in real-world patrol duties to evaluate their performance, practicality, and suitability for frontline operations. The evaluation is being conducted without any purchase commitment on PDRM’s part.

“As we continuously explore solutions that can enhance operational effectiveness, it is important that any new technology is assessed under real-world conditions,” said Commissioner of Police Redzuan Bin Abd Hamid, Director of the Logistics and Technology Department, Royal Malaysia Police Bukit Aman. “The insights gained will contribute to our ongoing efforts to identify mobility solutions that best support the operational needs of the Royal Malaysia Police,” he added. 

Christopher Tan, Executive Vice President of ETCM, said that the “Nissan e-POWER was developed to make electrified driving accessible by delivering an EV-like driving experience without the need to charge and the fear of range anxiety.” He hopes that, through the programme, the KICKS e-POWER can support “diverse fleet applications”, including the aforementioned frontline use. 

For context, the Nissan KICKS e-POWER made its Malaysian debut in December 2024 in two variants: the VL and VLT. At launch, the former was priced at RM113,800, while the latter retailed for RM121,800.

The SUV is powered by a 129 PS/280 Nm electric motor, which draws energy from a 2.06 kWh battery. It is paired with an 82 PS/103 Nm 1.2-litre HR12DE three-cylinder petrol engine that serves solely as a generator rather than driving the wheels directly. Nissan claims the KICKS e-POWER can accelerate from 0–100 km/h in under 9.5 seconds while delivering a fuel efficiency of 21.7 km/L, giving it a claimed driving range of up to 900 km on its 41-litre fuel tank.

(Source: Nissan [Facebook], Paultan.org, BusinessToday Malaysia)

Updated 6:39 pm, Wed, 5 August 26