Hyundai Kona Electric - 64 kWh with range up to 470km coming later this year

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#2080974 29-Aug-2018 18:08

Having driven a Chevy Bolt EV in Canada for 2 weeks recently, with a very similar spec (60kWh and 150kw motor - also from LG Chem - and 400km real world range) , the Kona will be an awesome car.

This is Auckland to Wellington with one 45 minute stop along the way for a meal and charging.

My longest, single leg in Canada was Port Severne to Azilda (west of Sudbury) and was just under 300km. I had only charged to 85% at Port Severne......and still have 21% left at Azilda. So 64% got me 300km of actual highway driving.....

I'm still hanging out for the Tesla Model 3 so I can use the 120kw superchargers......but the Kona is available right NOW.

I may get a Kona and switch to a Model 3 next year........having driven a 400-450km EV already and LOVED it.

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Linuxluver

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#2080976 29-Aug-2018 18:14

justin5:

....

I appreciated him taking the time out to call me. I was still left with the feeling after our talk, though, (and rightly or wrongly) that I have been pushed down the waiting list. Indeed, I might not end up with a NEW Kona Elite EV before the end of this year (which sticks in my craw a bit having cancelled my 20-month old Tesla Model 3 order, with potential delivery in 2019 too, in favour of a Kona EV).

But then, there is always the Kia Niro EV coming early 2019....maybe I should make a super-duper early deposit on one of those instead? Hmmmmm.......

I wouldn't cancel my Model 3 reservation unless and until I was *already* driving a Kona EV and decided to stick with it. :-)

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 15 years..... Time flies....

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2080996 29-Aug-2018 18:37

Linuxluver:

justin5:

....

I appreciated him taking the time out to call me. I was still left with the feeling after our talk, though, (and rightly or wrongly) that I have been pushed down the waiting list. Indeed, I might not end up with a NEW Kona Elite EV before the end of this year (which sticks in my craw a bit having cancelled my 20-month old Tesla Model 3 order, with potential delivery in 2019 too, in favour of a Kona EV).

But then, there is always the Kia Niro EV coming early 2019....maybe I should make a super-duper early deposit on one of those instead? Hmmmmm.......

I wouldn't cancel my Model 3 reservation unless and until I was *already* driving a Kona EV and decided to stick with it. :-)

Good on you not cancelling your Model 3 reservation ... I was probably a bit rash in cancelling mine.

Having said that, I am feeling mildly positive that my Kona Elite will be delivered sooner rather than later now...we'll see.

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2085844 7-Sep-2018 18:34

justin5:

Linuxluver:

justin5:

....

I appreciated him taking the time out to call me. I was still left with the feeling after our talk, though, (and rightly or wrongly) that I have been pushed down the waiting list. Indeed, I might not end up with a NEW Kona Elite EV before the end of this year (which sticks in my craw a bit having cancelled my 20-month old Tesla Model 3 order, with potential delivery in 2019 too, in favour of a Kona EV).

But then, there is always the Kia Niro EV coming early 2019....maybe I should make a super-duper early deposit on one of those instead? Hmmmmm.......

I wouldn't cancel my Model 3 reservation unless and until I was *already* driving a Kona EV and decided to stick with it. :-)

Good on you not cancelling your Model 3 reservation ... I was probably a bit rash in cancelling mine.

Having said that, I am feeling mildly positive that my Kona Elite will be delivered sooner rather than later now...we'll see.

UPDATE TIME....I might be getting a Kona EV Elite next month (October).

Chalk White or RED might be the only options...white was always ok with me back in first delivery dates.

frednz

1431 posts

Uber Geek

#2088079 12-Sep-2018 10:26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZq4val74Y

The above NZ video about the 64kWh Hyundai Kona was published on 10 September 2018 by Auto Media Group editor Richard Edwards. The reviewer comments on the power of the Kona as follows:

"The 64 kWh battery car has a lot of power on tap, almost too much for this kind of car. There’s 150 kilowatts available and just short of 400 Nm of torque, which is epic levels for a really compact SUV. So much so that if the road is dry and you put your foot down coming out of an intersection or something, it will be fighting on both sides of the wheels for traction and there’ll be a little bit of torque steer, so you’ve really got to get used to moderating your foot when driving around town and that’s made worse in the wet. The electronic stability control system does a pretty good job of keeping it in check, but it isn’t hard to squeal the tyres in this car."

So, as with other reviews quoted in this thread, the reviewer comments on the possibility of “torque steer”, and the need to learn how to moderate your foot when driving around town. Torque steer has been defined in Wikipedia as

“the unintended influence of engine torque on the steering, especially in front-wheel drive vehicles. For example, during heavy acceleration the steering may pull to one side, which may be disturbing to the driver.”

Mark Jennings made a comment on the video as follows:

"Really annoying that Hyundai NZ /Aus have not sorted out the Map and Nav software so you have to use the car play map off your phone!! Apart from this the car is brilliant."

It’s great to get the comment that “the car is brilliant”, but I’m a bit surprised at Mark’s comment that the dedicated navigation software (non-mobile phone) hasn’t been sorted out yet.

frednz

1431 posts

Uber Geek

#2089191 12-Sep-2018 12:08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPqY9fbazlQ

Here's another recent video review of the Hyundai 64 kWh Kona together with lots of very informative positive comments! These are well worth reading.

The review is headed: "Kona Electric UK 1st drive and review. Absolutely Brilliant!"

Nigel didn't notice any torque steer during his first drive, but one or two people who commented on the video said it does happen, such as this posting from Mark Jennings:

"Torque steer does occur. You need to try harder, put it in sport and boot it!! It will wheel spin and torque steer every time lol!!"

And this comment also mentions it:

Generally torque steer is felt under low speed, hard acceleration and when turning ever so slightly. It is quite apparent in the smaller EVs with more torque such as the Chevy Bolt.

So, it seems that torque steer is not really a major issue provided that you are aware it can happen in certain conditions and you avoid accelerating too hard in these conditions.

tripper1000

1475 posts

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#2089298 12-Sep-2018 14:16

Torque steer happens in most front wheel drives that have any torque to speak of and isn't a big deal unless you intend to hoon about the place. Your average mum won't get into that zone on the way to school any more than she already does in the Swift/Corolla/Kia etc. Manufacturers can design to minimise it if they choose to, so possibly it is more a comment on how Hyundai hasn't designed the drive chain to get the torque onto the road more elegantly.

Linuxluver

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#2089304 12-Sep-2018 14:22

justin5:

UPDATE TIME....I might be getting a Kona EV Elite next month (October).

Chalk White or RED might be the only options...white was always ok with me back in first delivery dates.

Awesome.....you're making me jealous. It's a huge step forward to 64kWh. You won't care about the range......You just won't care.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 15 years..... Time flies....

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2091258 15-Sep-2018 20:59

Linuxluver:

justin5:

UPDATE TIME....I might be getting a Kona EV Elite next month (October).

Chalk White or RED might be the only options...white was always ok with me back in first delivery dates.

Awesome.....you're making me jealous. It's a huge step forward to 64kWh. You won't care about the range......You just won't care.

I am hoping that I can drive from Auckland to Napier (412km according to google maps) without worrying about a top up...that would be great! :-)

frednz

1431 posts

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#2091325 16-Sep-2018 10:02

justin5:

I am hoping that I can drive from Auckland to Napier (412km according to google maps) without worrying about a top up...that would be great! :-)

Yes, I guess that would be achievable if, when you get to Taupo, the range left is showing as at least 145km. And there are a couple of ChargeNet stations on the Napier-Taupo road you could stop at if you started to get range anxiety! Or you could go quite slow and annoy everyone, and this would increase range also.

However, I think there are some advantages in setting a minimum range that you will always feel safe with, such as 50km, and always plan to charge up when, or before, this range is reached. After all, the range remaining shown by EVs is only an estimate, so if you cut it too fine, you could end up being a tow job.

If I was travelling from Auckland to Napier in a Kona which has a “theoretical” range of 420km, I would stop for 30 minutes in Taupo and charge up there. This would probably add at least 130km to your range and mean that you arrive in Napier without range anxiety and with plenty of spare kms for running around before you charge up again.

Another challenge that someone’s sure to try, is to drive a Kona from Hokitika to Wanaka on one charge, a distance of about 420km. The only difference with this one is that there are presently no ChargeNet chargers between Hokitika and Wanaka so if things don’t go quite as planned you might need a Plan B, such as stopping at a campsite and charging up for a few hours.

afe66

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#2091331 16-Sep-2018 10:40

On that Auckland to Napier trip, are you honestly not planning on stopping at all?

Purely from a fatigue, safety point of view that's stupid. You obviously also have a bladder much bigger than mine.

Just plan on stopping for a break and a charge.

Many petrol cars can do that distance without stopping but few sensible safe drivers do it.

paulchinnz

Circumspice
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#2091332 16-Sep-2018 10:48

'Without worrying about top up' is different to 'not planning on stopping'. For me the former means I can stop wherever I like, rather than be constrained by location of charging stations. Nevertheless, I get anxious when driving between cities with < 100 km left on any form of energy (what if there's a big detour etc), so I'd be charging well before 420 km.

frednz

1431 posts

Uber Geek

#2091397 16-Sep-2018 11:49

paulchinnz:

'Without worrying about top up' is different to 'not planning on stopping'. For me the former means I can stop wherever I like, rather than be constrained by location of charging stations. Nevertheless, I get anxious when driving between cities with < 100 km left on any form of energy (what if there's a big detour etc), so I'd be charging well before 420 km.

I agree, now consider the drive from Auckland to Wellington, where I’ve seen a few people suggest that, with your 64 kWh Kona (which has a touring range of around 400km) you’ll only need to charge up once on your journey.

Now, at first glance, this sounds logical because the distance from Auckland to Wellington is 646km. So you could charge your Kona at Waiouru, which is a distance of 387km from Auckland. However, to me, it’s cutting it too fine to plan to drive 387km in a car that has a fully charged range of 400km, and when there are no charging stations between Turangi and Waiouru.

So instead, I would charge up at Turangi, which is a distance of 322km to Wellington. But, if you charge up to 80%, this would only give you a range of 320km to get to Wellington, which again is cutting it too fine. So, you would have to plan to charge to 90% at Turangi, to get a range of 360km which would be sufficient to get you to Wellington with only 40km range left on arrival.

But, even though you can charge to 95% (max setting for ChargeNet), it will charge more slowly after you reach 80%. So, in this example, it may be more sensible to charge up twice on the trip, firstly at Turangi and then at say, Levin or Otaki.

On the ChargeNet web site it says that:

"The speed of charging slows as the batteries fill. After 80% charged, the speed is noticeably slower and because customers are charged per minute, the cost effectiveness is reduced over 80%. The last 5% is so slow, that we do not offer it as an option."

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2091467 16-Sep-2018 15:07

frednz:

paulchinnz:

'Without worrying about top up' is different to 'not planning on stopping'. For me the former means I can stop wherever I like, rather than be constrained by location of charging stations. Nevertheless, I get anxious when driving between cities with < 100 km left on any form of energy (what if there's a big detour etc), so I'd be charging well before 420 km.

I agree, now consider the drive from Auckland to Wellington, where I’ve seen a few people suggest that, with your 64 kWh Kona (which has a touring range of around 400km) you’ll only need to charge up once on your journey.

Now, at first glance, this sounds logical because the distance from Auckland to Wellington is 646km. So you could charge your Kona at Waiouru, which is a distance of 387km from Auckland. However, to me, it’s cutting it too fine to plan to drive 387km in a car that has a fully charged range of 400km, and when there are no charging stations between Turangi and Waiouru.

So instead, I would charge up at Turangi, which is a distance of 322km to Wellington. But, if you charge up to 80%, this would only give you a range of 320km to get to Wellington, which again is cutting it too fine. So, you would have to plan to charge to 90% at Turangi, to get a range of 360km which would be sufficient to get you to Wellington with only 40km range left on arrival.

But, even though you can charge to 95% (max setting for ChargeNet), it will charge more slowly after you reach 80%. So, in this example, it may be more sensible to charge up twice on the trip, firstly at Turangi and then at say, Levin or Otaki.

On the ChargeNet web site it says that:

"The speed of charging slows as the batteries fill. After 80% charged, the speed is noticeably slower and because customers are charged per minute, the cost effectiveness is reduced over 80%. The last 5% is so slow, that we do not offer it as an option."

You guys are both right....it IS safer to stop once on a 400+km trip...and that stop can be pleasantly spent charging up a bit and having a food and comfort break.

Before the Kona came along, I had only ever wanted a one-stop-to-charge EV to make it to Napier. But, the Kona is just on the edge of making non-stop possible (I have done the drive a lot over the years and know the road well - and my bladder seems exellently well behaved)...foolish, really, as a stop is always better for safety's sake.

I have a fair bit of EV thinking to learn...your desciption of the best way to get to Wellington in a Kona makes total sense...and, two stops for such a long drive is a good thing anyway!

Roll on October (somewhere between the 1st and 31st) when I take possession of my Kona! :-)

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2095150 23-Sep-2018 15:52

I've just worked out that the GPS maps don't work in Hyundai Konas and Ioniqs in New Zealand. See this from the NZ EV Owners facebook page:

I'm hoping that, once OZ starts selling them late this year or early next, that NZ/OZ Maps will be added to my Kona as having maps built-in (from what I have seen overseas) includes EV Charging spots.

Even though the Kona has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so maps can be used via smartphones, I don't think that those maps (e.g. Apple Maps) offer EV Chargers on their maps....and you'd have to be sure your phone was plugged in to the car to get those maps even if they do.

Does anyone know anything about this that I don't? Anyone here have inside information? ;-)

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