I managed to get invited to the preview of the newly launched 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric. It was held last week and while I did not get a chance to drive the fully electrified SUV, I can tell you a bit on what the electric Kona is, its specification (how many variants and all) as well as some personal thoughts. This is the first all-electric vehicle under the Hyundai brand to make its debut in Malaysia. Prices at launch are RM149,888 (e-lite) RM169,888 (e-plus) and RM199,888 (e-max).
The new 2022 Kona Electric will be available in two different zero-emissions battery electric powertrains: a long-range Max version powered by a 64 kWh battery with a maximum range of 484km via its 150Kw (204ps) motor and a 39.2 kWh battery basic version with a driving range of 305km (for the Lite and Plus variants) which has a 100kw 136ps motor, Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test (WLTP) with a single charge and both make 350m torque. It will come in 3 variants - the entry level Lite, the mid-level Plus and the top specced Max. The Max will be the one coming with the larger battery pack.
The Kona, unlike the IONIQ hatchback is not an outright hybrid or electric car design platform. It is unique in the way that there are many similarities with the regular Kona. The electric motor, transmission, convertor all sits where the internal combustion engine would sit. It looks like an engine with the usual plastic engine cover when you pop the bonnet to look at it. It is front wheel drive so everything about the drive train is up front. The battery pack sits under the car in an alloy box. You can actually see the box if you bend over and look beneath the car.(It's that silverish alloy you see beneath the black strip in the photo below). Oh, it also sits with a slightly lower ground clearance of 10mm because of this.
In the case of the battery pack, it does take a little bit of rear floor height. I could tell that the electric Kona has a slightly raised floor. However, no boot space seems to be taken and storage size looks the same.
There is an added weight penalty compared to the standard Kona due to the battery packs (which are module based so you don't have to change the whole thing but only battery modules that require change). On the top specced Max, it is close to 400kg heavier than a regular petrol (or diesel) Kona. However, it makes up for it due to the centre of gravity being lower and the rear suspension set up is of a multi link design. No longer a beam type rear axle setup. So handling should be similar to the the regular Kona with a slightly weight penalty felt when you are pushing it hard.
Although, this should be offset by the almost instantaneous push on an electric motor and 350m torque. This is why the top specced variant gets to 100kmh in under 8seconds. In terms of what I think, I imagine it to be a heavier, more powerful Kona, with tweaks to its suspension system to offset and balance out the weight gain. It should still be quite a nice drive like the regular one.
The Kona Electric we get is the facelifted variant. So the exterior gets some nice design updates where the Kona is less squarish up front with more flowing lines. Among the redesigned bits are new bumpers, lamps, wheel design and colours.. The signature claddings have been refined and now in body colour, thus emphasising the model’s width and stance. Low, U-shaped skid plate and new DRL design also improve the styling of the Kona. Externally, all variants look the same (even the alloy wheels are the same)with the only clues being the front radar in the Max and a more comprehensive sensor array at the top of the windscreen for both the Plus and the Max.
The interior features a progressive design with a new horizontal layout and new ambient lighting technology in the foot area. Ambient lighting illuminates the passenger and driver side footwell. All cars get the same infotainment system with Android and Apply carplay connectivity. The only real difference is that the Max and Plus gets a Heads Up Display on top of the meter cluster and both the front seats in the Max and Plus are electric adjustable ones. The Max gets ventilated and heated front seats as as extra.
So in short, you are paying extra for the performance and range in the max.
Overall, this is a Kona facelift which does not have a petrol engine and of course missing a front grille air intake in the front. It is interesting to those that want to be the first adopters of the latest technology. It is also for those that want a very efficient short distance commuter vehicle. If you intend to drive to some place like Desaru from Kuala Lumpur, some planning is required. This is a car for any where within 200km. Well, you need another 200km to make it back home if you don't charge it up at your destination. It will also be quiet and you'd never ever need to end up at a fuel station again. Or maybe you may need to when these stations have areas for EV charging.
Both the Kona Electric 64 kWh and 39.2 kWh battery variants (electricity consumption: 15.4 kWh/100;CO 2 emissions: 0 g/km according to WLTP) feature an electric motor which delivers a maximum power of 204 PS (150 kW) and 395 Nm of immediate torque, accelerating the Kona Electric to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds – in ensuring that it is fun-to-drive with full power available from the first second.
Hyundai claims that charging the lithium-ion polymer battery from 10 to 80 per cent only takes about 47 minutes using a100kW direct current (DC) fast charger. The Kona Electric features an optional 11-kW three-phase on-board charger. This allows for significantly shorter charging times using public three-phase AC charging stations or with a private compatible wall box at home. Drivers also have the option of charging their car at a compatible regular household power socket using the ICCB-cable (in-cable control box).
But if the charging capability is actually fast only with the chargers mentioned above. If you charge via the ICCB (which sits in the boot floor), it will take a heck of a long time if you expect a full charge - 31 HOURS. Holy crap. But when you use any wall socket and everything has to be regulated, it is glacially slow. Which is why a home charging station is recommended. Well, the bigger the battery pack, the longer it needs to charge.
Eventually when Hyundai plants a few fast chargers near their dealerships and more EV charging stations which have the rapid chargers, it will get easier. But in the meantime, you buy the Kona Electric, you ought to get the wall mounted chargers. Or just ensure plugging it in overnight for adequate power for your local commutes.
Pricing is estimated to start under RM150,000 to about RM210,000 for the basic model with import and excise duty exemptions. This follows the Budget 2022 announcement last Friday on the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia. But do note that while you may save on any sort of sales taxes upon purchase, and a two year road tax exempt, these Kona Electric will be hit by a road tax of slightly over RM1,000 per annum for all variants.
This is quite a sum as the funny blokes that decided EV tax decided that since the electric motor that the Kona Electric uses the same parts number for both the larger more powerful motor, the powers that be decided that all variants get hit by the same road tax. So if you intend to run the Kona Electric for the long run. It could be a better thing if you just paid more for the extra oomph. That said, if you run the car for 10 years, the almost RM40-50K difference in price should be taken into account if you just run the car in the city.
The Kona Electric is an electric version of the Kona. It is the second electric car from Hyundai after the Ioniq. Sales started in Korea and Europe in 2018, with a market debut in the United States in 2019. Now, we get it here. One of the first fully electric cars that is relatively affordable here in Malaysia (relative to Malaysia, that is).
The Kona Electric will be available for booking with first deliveries scheduled for January 2022.
Kona Electric Max
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