What’s next for Proton e.MAS? Geely battery roadmap hints at faster charging and longer range

KUALA LUMPUR: The quiet appearance of an electric version of the Geely Galaxy Starship 7( sibling to e.MAS 7 PHEV) at the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition raised an interesting question. If the e.MAS 7 EV and e.MAS 7 PHEV are built on different foundations today, could that gap start to close in the future?

That moment, tucked away at the back of Geely’s Galaxy Park display, was enough to spark a broader thought about where the Proton e.MAS brand is heading next, not just in terms of cars, but the battery technology underneath them.

Also Read: 500,000 cars, 1 million parts, what Is Geely really planning for Proton and Malaysia?

Some of those answers may have already been hinted at earlier.

At a pre-Auto China 2026 Geely gathering, the company laid out its wider battery strategy, showcasing what it calls a full-portfolio approach alongside its next-generation Shendun Gold Brick battery system and a roadmap towards all-solid-state batteries.

Taken together, it offers a clearer picture of how the e.MAS lineup could evolve over time.

A platform that can evolve

One considerable takeaway is that Geely is not developing a single battery for all cars, but a range of battery solutions designed for different use cases.

This includes high-performance batteries capable of extremely fast charging, as well as more cost-focused packs designed for durability and long-term use.

The Shendun system itself is built around improving safety, longevity and efficiency, areas that matter most to everyday EV buyers.

For current e.MAS buyers, the point is not that they should wait for the next battery. It is that Proton’s EV lineup is being built on a technology pipeline that is still moving quickly.

The e.MAS models on sale today mark the starting point, while future versions could benefit from the next wave of Geely battery development, whether through faster charging, better range, longer battery life or stronger safety performance.

Faster charging and longer-lasting batteries

From what was shown, Geely is pushing towards batteries that can charge significantly faster while also lasting longer over years of use.

In simple terms, that could mean less time spent at chargers and more confidence in how the battery holds up over the long run. Combined with improved efficiency, it also opens the door to better real-world range without necessarily increasing battery size.

For Proton’s e.MAS lineup, these are the kinds of improvements that matter most in Malaysia, where charging convenience and long-term ownership costs are still key considerations for buyers.

Safety remains a major focus

Equally important is how much emphasis Geely is placing on safety.

The Shendun battery system was shown alongside extreme durability tests, including compression, puncture and even ballistic impact scenarios. While these are far beyond real-world conditions, they point to a clear direction, building batteries that are more resistant to damage and less prone to critical failure.

For buyers who are still cautious about EV safety, this kind of development plays a key role in building confidence over time.

Looking further ahead, solid-state batteries

Beyond current-generation batteries, Geely also outlined its roadmap for all-solid-state battery development.

The timeline points to early integration and prototype vehicles around 2026, followed by small-scale production and fleet testing by 2027, before eventually moving towards mass production closer to 2030.

These next-generation batteries promise significantly higher energy density, which could translate to longer driving range, while also improving safety due to their more stable structure compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.

For now, this remains a long-term development, but it shows that the e.MAS brand is being built with future technologies already in mind.

What this means for Proton e.MAS

For Proton, the takeaway is not that current models will quickly become outdated, but that they are part of a continuously evolving technology pipeline.

The e.MAS 7 EV and e.MAS 7 PHEV already represent two different approaches to electrification, and both sit on Geely platforms that are actively being developed further in China.

What the Starship 7 EV prototype showed at the auto show, combined with what was shared earlier at Geely’s pre-show gathering, is how those platforms could improve over time, especially at the battery level.

And in Malaysia, where EV adoption is still growing, these are the areas that will make the biggest difference to buyers.

Because the real question is no longer just what an EV can do today, but how much better it can become over the next few years.

If Geely’s battery roadmap is anything to go by, the Proton e.MAS story is only just getting started.

Also Read: 2026 Proton X70 Sport Edition launched in Malaysia