Following the news of our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak agreed to import 100 units of Tesla Model S premium electric sedans on duty-free basis. I am curious if electric car like Tesla really cost lower than our fuel price for the similar mileage.

Ya, please forget about the car price and maintain for now. Tesla Model S price ranging from US$69,900 to US$85,000. Convert into Ringgit Malaysia at the rate of RM4, it will be RM279,600 to RM340,000. Yap, IT IS a luxury car.

Forget about those 6 digit numbers now.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2012 Model S Performance model equipped with an 85 kWh (310 MJ) battery pack is 265 miles (426 km).

So how much does it cost to fully charge up a 85kWh battery, that was build in the Tesla Model S?

Per the current Malaysia TNB tariff rates (2016), the first 200kWh will cost you 21.80sen/kWh.
Which means 85kWh x RM0.218sen/kWh = RM18.53.

Yes, it is only RM18.53.

For RM18.53, you can travel 426km. It is the distance from Alor Setar, Kedah to Menara KLCC. Then you need to find a source to charge your car. Or, you can bring your own charger and plug into any AC to start the charging.

Is this rate cheap? Certainly!!!

May be you are not convinced. Let take the higest availabel rate of 57.10sen/kWh.

85kWh x RM0.571sen/kWh = RM48.54.