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

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Hyundai Kona Electric - 64 kWh with range up to 470km coming later this year

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102 posts

Master Geek

#2120456 5-Nov-2018 18:50

justin5:

frednz:

A recent update on FB about the navigation problem with the Kona Elite EV provided some interesting information:

"Also asked (Hyundai) if they have sorted the navigation for Aussie and NZ and they replied that these Kona's are assembled in Czech Republic and they have a hardware incompatibility with Australasian software options for the navigation system, they did not say they had an answer for this or that it was fixed."

This posting also reported that there was a delay in delivering their Kona Elite EV and that it won't now be delivered until March 2019. Hyundai said this was because they were having trouble getting batteries.

The posting also said that another reason may be that Norway has 20,000 cars on order with only 1,000 delivered!

Thank you for posting this info from Facebook (I am not a member of Facebook and, having held out this long, reckon I will never join...I certainly don't want to with all their data leaks etc haha).

I did not know the Irish-specced Kona's we are getting here are built in the Czech Republic! I have also been told there is some sort of hardware/firmware problem that means the units will not be able to be converted to NZ maps. I will see how often it bugs me not to have in-built satnav...Apple CarPlay will be good, but it does require me to always have my phone plugged in which I am not inclined to do, currently).

I am hoping to have my Kona Elite tomorrow! At least, sometime this week...I can't wait for the almost 5 month wait to be over :-)

When they started taking orders in Norway, there was an instant rush to get a Kona. I'm sure most of the world's Kona EVs will be going to Norway as it is such a great place to own one with a fantastic charging network PLUS many incentives to buy an EV instead of an ICE.

I was messaged very early this morning to say my new Kona Electric Elite was ready for pick up...my brief driving experiences so far after picking up it as soon as I could? I LOVE my new little beast :-)

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alasta

5744 posts

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#2120500 5-Nov-2018 19:47

Congratulations! It will be interesting to hear your experiences when you've clocked a bit of mileage.

I would consider one in a years time if James Shaw's promised subsidies are generous enough.

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2120504 5-Nov-2018 19:52

alasta:

Congratulations! It will be interesting to hear your experiences when you've clocked a bit of mileage.

I would consider one in a years time if James Shaw's promised subsidies are generous enough.

Thank you for your Congratulations, alasta :-)

Once I have clocked up some mileage, I certainly will post my thoughts for you and others.

I expect that subsidies for EVs will kick in very soon, now that I have my EV....that is the way of the world, in my experience haha

Dinga96

113 posts

Master Geek

#2120515 5-Nov-2018 20:08

justin5:

alasta:

Congratulations! It will be interesting to hear your experiences when you've clocked a bit of mileage.

I would consider one in a years time if James Shaw's promised subsidies are generous enough.

Thank you for your Congratulations, alasta :-)

Once I have clocked up some mileage, I certainly will post my thoughts for you and others.

I expect that subsidies for EVs will kick in very soon, now that I have my EV....that is the way of the world, in my experience haha

Happy to hear you got your Kona EV Justin,never mind about missing out on the incentive programme,you may still be able to take advantage when you buy your next bev

frednz

1431 posts

Uber Geek

#2120985 6-Nov-2018 17:08

justin5:

I was messaged very early this morning to say my new Kona Electric Elite was ready for pick up...my brief driving experiences so far after picking up it as soon as I could? I LOVE my new little beast :-)

Well I'm really pleased to hear that it's all worked out for you and that your patience and perseverance with Hyundai NZ has paid dividends!

When time permits, let's know your experiences with your new "little beast", and I'm sure you'll soon get used to using your mobile phone for navigation!

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2123363 10-Nov-2018 17:38

frednz:

justin5:

I was messaged very early this morning to say my new Kona Electric Elite was ready for pick up...my brief driving experiences so far after picking up it as soon as I could? I LOVE my new little beast :-)

Well I'm really pleased to hear that it's all worked out for you and that your patience and perseverance with Hyundai NZ has paid dividends!

When time permits, let's know your experiences with your new "little beast", and I'm sure you'll soon get used to using your mobile phone for navigation!

So, 150+ kilometres in (of mainly suburban with some motorway driving), I am LOVING my Kona EV.

It is FAST off the mark, if I want it to be, yet mostly I want to drive economically. That too is a pleasure (the weight of the Kona with its heavy batteries make it sit on the road and go over bumps pretty nicely, in my opinion).

I've taken to listening, on occasion, to RNZ Concert because it is so nice and quiet inside my Kona. As much as I love some hip-hop and R&B (Flava FM) as well as RNZ National, I reckon RNZ Concert will become a permanent part of the eclectic entertainment mix in my Kona...quiet electric driving has changed me ;-)

I have to say, after driving a brand new Toyota Corolla rental for 3 weeks before getting my Kona, the "self-driving" bits (lane-keep-assist and adaptive-cruise-control) are more assured in the Kona...less wandering in the lane looking for white lines on either side and the Kona seems quicker to adpat to cars in front.

The speed sign recognition on both is great....a reminder of what speed you should be doing on the road, as long as the Corolla or Kona have seen a speed sign recently.

Adaptive Cruise Control is GREAT (better on the Kona than the Corolla, mind you) for not really noticing how much traffic is speeding up and slowing down...I found in my previous car that I was constantly annoyed by how often cars in front of me sped up and slowed down (for no apparent reason), thereby forcing me to adjust the cruise control often (or turn it off). With Adaptive Cruise Control, that annoyance has gone.

The Blind Spot Warnings in the Kona seem really good, so far....even warning of a bicycle in the lane next to me that I wanted to change in to. As a sometime bicyclist, I liked that :-)

As much as I am sad that the MAP and NAV buttons in my Irish-specced NZ-new Kona don't work (and can't ever be made to work in NZ, apparently) Apple CarPlay works brilliantly with Waze, Google Maps and Apple Maps for navigation (as long as I have my phone plugged in to the car, mind you).

I will look at getting the in-built MAP/NAV buttons working in my Kona via Hyundai NZ (I am prepared to pay for firmware/hardware change-out when NZ maps become available) or via a third party, as long as warranties are not voided. I know, from my previous car, how convenient it is to have in-built SatNav working (even if they are out of date and have no traffic data) for those moments when my phone is not readily at hand.

All in all, loving my Kona :-)

frednz

1431 posts

Uber Geek

#2124702 13-Nov-2018 12:50

justin5: So, 150+ kilometres in (of mainly suburban with some motorway driving), I am LOVING my Kona EV.

It is FAST off the mark, if I want it to be, yet mostly I want to drive economically. That too is a pleasure (the weight of the Kona with its heavy batteries make it sit on the road and go over bumps pretty nicely, in my opinion).

Thanks for this report, it's reassuring to know that you're loving your Kona and that you are happy with Apple CarPlay etc.

This recent "Stuff" article concludes that the Hyundai Kona Electric is our Top Plug-In Car of 2018 and mentions that:

Kona is one BEV we wouldn't hesitate to hit the open road in. The eco-tyres don't have a lot of grip, but that's easily fixed with a change of rubber if that's a priority.

Sure, the Kona Electric is still pretty expensive. But so are batteries.

We reckon the Hyundai is a stunning achievement and good value in terms of BEV engineering. Most importantly, it hasn't forgotten to be an actual car as well.

Justin, do you agree with the comment about the eco-tyres?

It seems that Kona Elite EV supplies in NZ are still very limited with one FB user reporting that he ordered an elite version in July and has now been told it will be delivered in March next year. Perhaps this is because some NZ corporates are ordering lots of them?

wellygary

6725 posts

Uber Geek

#2124744 13-Nov-2018 14:07

frednz:

It seems that Kona Elite EV supplies in NZ are still very limited with one FB user reporting that he ordered an elite version in July and has now been told it will be delivered in March next year. Perhaps this is because some NZ corporates are ordering lots of them?

Registration stats show a total of 76 on the road ... 37 registered between July-September and an additional 39 in October....

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2124941 13-Nov-2018 18:46

frednz:

justin5: So, 150+ kilometres in (of mainly suburban with some motorway driving), I am LOVING my Kona EV.

It is FAST off the mark, if I want it to be, yet mostly I want to drive economically. That too is a pleasure (the weight of the Kona with its heavy batteries make it sit on the road and go over bumps pretty nicely, in my opinion).

Thanks for this report, it's reassuring to know that you're loving your Kona and that you are happy with Apple CarPlay etc.

This recent "Stuff" article concludes that the Hyundai Kona Electric is our Top Plug-In Car of 2018 and mentions that:

Kona is one BEV we wouldn't hesitate to hit the open road in. The eco-tyres don't have a lot of grip, but that's easily fixed with a change of rubber if that's a priority.

Sure, the Kona Electric is still pretty expensive. But so are batteries.

We reckon the Hyundai is a stunning achievement and good value in terms of BEV engineering. Most importantly, it hasn't forgotten to be an actual car as well.

Justin, do you agree with the comment about the eco-tyres?

It seems that Kona Elite EV supplies in NZ are still very limited with one FB user reporting that he ordered an elite version in July and has now been told it will be delivered in March next year. Perhaps this is because some NZ corporates are ordering lots of them?

I have heard many reports that the wheels are VERY easy to spin because there is so much power going to the front wheels only. But, I haven't done it (although, I haven't put my foot flat to the floor yet either). I have done MANY fast starts, though...pushed firmly back in to the seat type of fast starts ;-)

I'm going to drive Auckland to Napier this weekend so will get more open road experience with it then.

I think it is the ELITE specced Kona EV that is in very short supply...I paid my deposit in mid-June so I guess a5.5 month wait wasn't TOO bad (especially compared the ever-changing Model 3 wait I was experiencing ... now cancelled, by the way).

If you didn't want a top-spec Kona, I see there are some around for sale ;-)

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2124943 13-Nov-2018 18:48

wellygary:

frednz:

It seems that Kona Elite EV supplies in NZ are still very limited with one FB user reporting that he ordered an elite version in July and has now been told it will be delivered in March next year. Perhaps this is because some NZ corporates are ordering lots of them?

Registration stats show a total of 76 on the road ... 37 registered between July-September and an additional 39 in October....

I suspect most of those registrations would be non-Elite Konas?

I was told my Elite Kona was the first that Hyundai Greenlane had had in their showroom (to sell, at least).

Jase2985

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#2125058 13-Nov-2018 20:53

From what i can find there are 12 registered Elites in NZ at the moment

https://opendata-nzta.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/motor-vehicle-register/data

MVMA_MODEL_CODE:

GKW5ZGZ7ZH for Elite
GKW5ZGZ7ZG for non elite

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2126728 14-Nov-2018 16:53

Jase2985:

From what i can find there are 12 registered Elites in NZ at the moment

https://opendata-nzta.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/motor-vehicle-register/data

MVMA_MODEL_CODE:

GKW5ZGZ7ZH for Elite
GKW5ZGZ7ZG for non elite

Crikey....I do feel lucky!

Thanks for that info, Jase.

KiwiME

199 posts

Master Geek

#2128406 17-Nov-2018 11:47

I bought the first Kona EV in Napier, what colour is yours? Will look for it.

justin5

102 posts

Master Geek

#2129051 18-Nov-2018 21:12

KiwiME:

I bought the first Kona EV in Napier, what colour is yours? Will look for it.

Mine is White with a Black Roof ... I am leaving Napier tomorrow (Monday) having arrived yesterday (Saturday).

I think my brother was very excited to see your White Kona EV charging in Dickens Street Carpark last weekend....AND again today (Sunday) he reckons you might have been driving away from charging there?

I let my brother have a drive of my Kona today....he LOVES it....as I'm sure you love yours :-)

KiwiME

199 posts

Master Geek

#2129079 18-Nov-2018 23:09

Yep, that's me, the white base model. I don't have anywhere to charge at home but fortunately that charger is only a two minute walk from my flat. I use the AC side for an hour or two early some mornings and that's practical because there is only a $0.40/kWh charge, no per minute. The 50kW DC charger still works concurrently if someone else comes along for a fast charge while I'm there.

I have not ever seen another Kona EV and no one has inquired about this one. But if I hang around the charger people seem to come out of the woodwork to ask general EV questions, questions that I'm only one step ahead of being able to answer since the car still has under 1000 km on it.

Have a good drive Monday. Napier-Taupo should use only about 35% if you're careful.

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