gzt:

MikeB4: Right now a levy on ICE vehicles is wrong. Currently the availability of EVs is abysmal. There is a lack variety and a lack of sufficient production.

Part of that is a chicken/egg scenario. On the other hand it's pretty clear that manufacturers are committed to EV and the curve will pick up rapidly.

Also the infrastructure is nowhere close to being able to support a greater uptake EVs.

There's a good amount of investment going in to charging. To me it looks in a good position to scale.

I have recently been in the market for an EV but ended up buying a new ICE due to the very poor offerings here right now and for a while based on production plans.

Agree it's a decision that does not work for everyone at the present time.

I like the idea of a subsidy funded by a levy. Every transfer of ownership to ICE has an ICE levy, $100. Every used car import has $500, every new import has $5000. Apply that in a means tested way, either the purchaser, or the car. That production and model range is limited is fine, build up the funds. EV will be a bell curve, and the target market is anyone except the wealthy and businesses. Set the threshold at 20% above average salary, 2 x that for a couple. Market them. Unsure of the costs to equip a house, but that can be paid by ECAN and recovered from rates.  

Or just leave it to nature, and let EV's remain a niche. I'm sure the vast majority of people see them as a niche vehicle, too new, too out there, not sure, so they get ignored.

MikeB4: I also believe that only the enthusiasts are willing to do all the math and planning to go on a weekend trip.
EV city only cars are fine but the majority of kiwis do a great deal more with their cars.

To be fair I used to feel that way, until Work got a Leaf as a daily driver. Now taking battery level in to account is just second nature. In the same way it is for managing a petrol tank. I would not hesitate to get a Leaf or similar as my own car.

Varkk:

 

MikeB4: I also believe that only the enthusiasts are willing to do all the math and planning to go on a weekend trip.
EV city only cars are fine but the majority of kiwis do a great deal more with their cars.

 

 

 

To be fair I used to feel that way, until Work got a Leaf as a daily driver. Now taking battery level in to account is just second nature. In the same way it is for managing a petrol tank. I would not hesitate to get a Leaf or similar as my own car.

 

I agree. Daily commuting, running around in the weekend, a Sunday drive, all easy on an EV. A day trip, just plan it. If the day trip is non stop, well then, EV wont work. I feel that many Kiwis are averse to EV's. We love our cars. Many probably agree with EV but just quietly, don't want them. I dont feel that the majority of Kiwis do more than "majority of kiwis do a great deal more with their cars, than city only"  As my opinion of the boundaries of an EV are higher.

http://autotalk.co.nz/news/hyundai-kona-electric-flown-fieldays

"Hyundai New Zealand will showcase the all-electric Kona SUV at Fieldays from June 13-16 after bringing it especially by plane on June 11.

It will be unveiled at the Hyundai’s Mystery Creek site near Hamilton at 10.30am on June 13, with a full public launch here later this year."

So, if you are keen to see the new Hyundai Kona EV, this is your chance. No NZ pricing details have been released as yet.

frednz:

 

http://autotalk.co.nz/news/hyundai-kona-electric-flown-fieldays

 

"Hyundai New Zealand will showcase the all-electric Kona SUV at Fieldays from June 13-16 after bringing it especially by plane on June 11.

 

It will be unveiled at the Hyundai’s Mystery Creek site near Hamilton at 10.30am on June 13, with a full public launch here later this year."

 

So, if you are keen to see the new Hyundai Kona EV, this is your chance. No NZ pricing details have been released as yet.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting Frednz

Hyundai must be fairly confident the Kona will release here this year then.I bet there will be lots of folks looking at this car.I am going to wait for it to arrive in the show room.Not overly excited about field days.Weather as usual is going to be crappy.What do you think of the colour?Suppose its better than white or grey /silver.

Dinga96:

 

frednz:

 

http://autotalk.co.nz/news/hyundai-kona-electric-flown-fieldays

 

"Hyundai New Zealand will showcase the all-electric Kona SUV at Fieldays from June 13-16 after bringing it especially by plane on June 11.

 

It will be unveiled at the Hyundai’s Mystery Creek site near Hamilton at 10.30am on June 13, with a full public launch here later this year."

 

So, if you are keen to see the new Hyundai Kona EV, this is your chance. No NZ pricing details have been released as yet.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting Frednz

 

Hyundai must be fairly confident the Kona will release here this year then.I bet there will be lots of folks looking at this car.I am going to wait for it to arrive in the show room.Not overly excited about field days.Weather as usual is going to be crappy.What do you think of the colour?Suppose its better than white or grey /silver.

 

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/news/hyundai-kona-electric-suv-with-400km-range-debuts-in-nz/

The above article includes a video by Sam Wallace about the Hyundai Kona 64 kWh EV which is currently on show at Hamilton. Apparently, 1,000 people have already expressed interest in this EV and a release date of August this year has been mentioned.

In addition, Hyundai is now accepting orders for it, so I will be interested to see if they can meet the likely demand for it this year. However, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea to pre-order the 64 kWh Kona when the price hasn't been announced as yet (rumoured to be at least $70,000 but could be a lot more than that).

Apparently, Hyundai NZ will only be selling the long-range 64 kWh model, so that's a good thing (IMHO)!

The article linked to above mentions that the battery can be recharged up to 80% in 54 minutes using a 100kW fast charger, while a full charge will take up to 10 hours on a standard AC charge.

Frednz

"In addition, Hyundai is now accepting orders for it, so I will be interested to see if they can meet the likely demand for it this year. However, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea to pre-order the 64 kWh Kona when the price hasn't been announced as yet (rumoured to be at least $70,000 but could be a lot more than that)."
 

Interesting that Sam said the Kona EV will be arriving in August.If they do get a large amount of orders, this will be the first NZ new ev to take off here .For that to happen Hyundai should try and keep the price under 60K .Buyers will not be comfortable paying 70K plus.For this price you could probably buy 2 ice Konas.Still good on Hyundai for pushing us ahead of  the UK launch.

Dinga96:

Frednz

"In addition, Hyundai is now accepting orders for it, so I will be interested to see if they can meet the likely demand for it this year. However, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea to pre-order the 64 kWh Kona when the price hasn't been announced as yet (rumoured to be at least $70,000 but could be a lot more than that)."
 

 

Interesting that Sam said the Kona EV will be arriving in August.If they do get a large amount of orders, this will be the first NZ new ev to take off here .For that to happen Hyundai should try and keep the price under 60K .Buyers will not be comfortable paying 70K plus.For this price you could probably buy 2 ice Konas.Still good on Hyundai for pushing us ahead of  the UK launch.

Dinga96:

 

Frednz

 

"In addition, Hyundai is now accepting orders for it, so I will be interested to see if they can meet the likely demand for it this year. However, I'm not sure whether it's a good idea to pre-order the 64 kWh Kona when the price hasn't been announced as yet (rumoured to be at least $70,000 but could be a lot more than that)."
 

 

Interesting that Sam said the Kona EV will be arriving in August.If they do get a large amount of orders, this will be the first NZ new ev to take off here .For that to happen Hyundai should try and keep the price under 60K .Buyers will not be comfortable paying 70K plus.For this price you could probably buy 2 ice Konas.Still good on Hyundai for pushing us ahead of  the UK launch.

 

I agree that many buyers may not be comfortable paying $70k plus for the 64 kWh Hyundai Kona. However, compare this with the price of a NZ-new BMW i3 with a pure electric range of only about 200 kms, which costs at least $76,000.

The Kona gives you at least 400km range and up to 470km around town, so which would you rather have, a Kona or an i3?

I think that, with an EV, range is so important and I'm sure the new Kona 64 kWh will outsell most other EVs, even if its new price is $80,000 (or more)! I doubt whether you'll be able to get a 64 kWh model for $70,000, but this may be possible with the 40 kWh model if and when it is sold here.

To be honest, wouldn't you rather have one Kona 64 kWh EV costing $80,000 than two petrol Konas at $40,000 each?

 

 

I agree that many buyers may not be comfortable paying $70k plus for the 64 kWh Hyundai Kona. However, compare this with the price of a NZ-new BMW i3 with a pure electric range of only about 200 kms, which costs at least $76,000.

 

The Kona gives you at least 400km range and up to 470km around town, so which would you rather have, a Kona or an i3?

 

I think that, with an EV, range is so important and I'm sure the new Kona 64 kWh will outsell most other EVs, even if its new price is $80,000 (or more)! I doubt whether you'll be able to get a 64 kWh model for $70,000, but this may be possible with the 40 kWh model if and when it is sold here.

 

To be honest, wouldn't you rather have one Kona 64 kWh EV costing $80,000 than two petrol Konas at $40,000 each?

 

The range is good and I hope it lives up to what Hyundai say it will do.This car is a petrol car converted to an ev, something that is unproven as we saw with the new leaf ,things are not always mentioned to the customer,ie thermal management of the bp . I see the bp actually sticks out of the underside of the car.So how do Hyundai cool their battery, anyone know about this stuff?

Just a quick look at the exterior and underneath the Kona EV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnx3k1eZ0Eo

Dinga96:

 

The range is good and I hope it lives up to what Hyundai say it will do.This car is a petrol car converted to an ev, something that is unproven as we saw with the new leaf ,things are not always mentioned to the customer,ie thermal management of the bp . I see the bp actually sticks out of the underside of the car.So how do Hyundai cool their battery, anyone know about this stuff?

 

Just a quick look at the exterior and underneath the Kona EV

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnx3k1eZ0Eo

 

Thanks Dinga you raise some very good points. I think the Hyundai Kona 64 kWh battery is liquid cooled, so that's very good.

When you say that the Kona EV is a petrol car converted to an EV, I don't think this is necessarily the case because I'm sure that Hyundai would have designed the Kona both for petrol and EV before production. I can't imagine Hyundai would just "tack on" a huge battery to the petrol version as an afterthought!

As part of the Youtube video you link to above there are lots of comments about how the Kona's battery is attached underneath the car and whether there is adequate ground clearance (see replies to a comment made by "EV Paddy").

It's mentioned that there is a big metal plate attached to the battery which would probably shield the battery from shocks and that shielding from the front of the car is all that should matter. One person asked whether this is a titanium plate, such as used by Tesla, but nobody replied to this question.

Here's another Youtube video that shows the underneath of the Kona:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1CR6Fu0m3g&feature=youtu.be

Overall, I doubt whether many buyers would worry about possible damage to the battery as they would know that Hyundai wouldn't market a vehicle that didn't have the battery properly protected. I think my main concern would be finding the rumoured $80,000 to buy a NZ-New version of the EV Kona and whether it's really worth such a big price! It will be interesting to see what the price of a Nissan Leaf 60 kWh EV retails at when it arrives here.