Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The Hyundai Kona Electric SUV
The Hyundai Motor Company, is a South Korean automotive manufacturer with a strong global presence (up to 200 countries). The company also has a stake in another leading South Korean automotive company, Kia Corporation. Hyundai has an annual production capacity of over 1.6 million units.
Hyundai commenced developing alternative fuel vehicles in 1988. The first pure electric car was developed by the company in 1991 (Sonata EV). The automotive manufacturer commenced producing hybrid electric vehicles in 2008. The company currently has two battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and also has two plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs):
The pure electric Hyundai Kona Electric EV was launched in South Korea in 2018. The Kona has also been available as an internal combustion engine (ICE) variant since 2017. The vehicle is named after the western district of the island of Hawaii.
The Kona e-SUV is the second pure electric car from the South Korean manufacturer. The first was the all-electric IONIQ EV. The upgraded New Kona Electric SUV EV is a practical and affordable electric vehicle (EV), appropriate for families keen to migrate to zero-emission electric driving, but at prices that are affordable.
The e-SUV is practical and versatile with an excellent zero-emission range. The KONA SUV EV is available in two EV battery sizes (39.2 kWh and 64 kWh), with a WLTP range up to 484 km for the larger lithium-ion EV battery. The 39.2 kWh EV battery offers a zero-emission range up to 305 km (WLTP).
Of course, the real-world electric range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, speed, use of regenerative braking, onboard services used, passenger load, tyre size etc. For the 39.2 kWh option, expect a real-world e-range closer to 260 km and for the 64 kWh, a 430 km electric range will be more realistic.
In any case, both options offer ample range for most needs, to include longer motorway journeys. The compact crossover electric SUV is more than appropriate for most family requirements, to include, school runs, family outings, weekend trips, grocery shopping and a lot more!
The electric vehicle (EV) also has a 10.5 kW AC (3-phase) onboard charger as standard and is capable of DC charging up to 100 kW. Most homes in Ireland are powered by a single-phase (7.4 kW) power supply. The 39.2 kWh EV battery can be fully charged via a single-phase EV charger in 6 hours and the 64 kWh EV battery will take 9 hours and 15 minutes.
For those with access to three-phase EV charging at home or at a public charging station, the 39.2 kWh battery can be fully charged in 4 hours and 20 minutes, while the 64 kWh battery can be fully charged in 6 hours and 50 minutes. DC charging will certainly be much faster and the 39.2 kWh can be charged up to 80% in 64 minutes (50 kW DC), while the 64 kWh can achieve 80% charge in 47 minutes (100 kW DC).
The Kona electric family car is available only in front-wheel drive (FWD). The pure electric Kona can achieve 0-100 km/h in 9.9 seconds for the smaller EV battery. The 64 kWh variant can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The top speed of the EV is 155 km/h.
Standard features in the electric vehicle include: regenerative brake shift paddles, smart key – keyless entry, rear camera and guidance system, 10.25″ screen navigation, driver’s supervision instrument cluster with TFT display (10.25″), forward collision warning (FCW), lane follow assist (LFA), lane keep assist (LKA) and more. In terms of practicality, the boot space (332 L) is not as large compared to rivals. The interior cabin has adequate space but not spacious.
Electric driving helps lower the cost of motoring. Depending on the cost of charging an electric car, the cost per km will vary between 5 and 10 cents. We encourage charging the electric car at home, overnight, when the electricity rates are lower.
PROS | CONS |
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An affordable compact family electric SUV | Not available as an all-wheel drive |
Good EV range (up to 484 kms) | Boot is smaller than rivals |
Up to 100 kW DC and three-phase onboard charger as standard | Heat pump does not come as standard |
The Hyundai Kona Electric SUV (credit: Hyundai)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Vehicle Type: | SUV (Compact Crossover) |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In Ireland: | Yes |
Variants (2 Options) |
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Executive (from € 31,495): 39.2 kWh battery / 64 kWh battery |
Premium (from € 34,995): 39.2 kWh battery / 64 kWh battery |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
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EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in two battery sizes: 39.2 kWh/ 64 kWh |
Charging: | 100 kW DC Rapid Charging (0-80%: 47 mins). On board charger: 10.5 kW AC |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
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Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
Charging Times (Overview) | |
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Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
Dimensions | |
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Height (mm): | 1570 |
Width (mm): | 1800 |
Length (mm): | 4205 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2600 |
Turning Circle (m): | 10.6 |
Boot Space (L): | 332 |
New KONA Electric (39.2 kWh) | |
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EV Battery Capacity: | 39.2 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 305 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 14.3 |
Charging: | 100 kW DC Rapid Charging (0-80%: 47 mins). On board charger: 10.5 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 155 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 9.9 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 136 |
Max Power (PS): | 100 |
Torque (Nm): | 395 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,535 – 1593 |
Colours: | 10 |
New KONA Electric (64 kWh) | |
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EV Battery Capacity: | 64 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 484 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 14.7 |
Charging: | 100 kW DC Rapid Charging (0-80%: 47 mins). On board charger: 10.5 kW AC |
Top Speed: | 167 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 7.9 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
Electric Motor (kW): | 204 |
Max Power (PS): | 150 |
Torque (Nm): | 395 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,658 – 1,743 |
Colours: | 10 |
Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)
Never have the reasons to buy an electric car been more compelling, than 2022. The past decade has witnessed a significant maturity of all types of electric vehicles (EVs), to include, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A BEV, also known as a pure electric car, is propelled using energy stored in an EV battery via an electric motor. While a PHEV uses ‘hybrid technology’, to include, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, to propel the vehicle.
One of the primary differences between a BEV and a PHEV, is that, a pure electric car, like the best-selling Tesla Model 3, has a much longer zero-tailpipe emission electric range, compared to a plug-in hybrid electric car, like the Toyota Prius PHEV. The reason is simple: a BEV has a much larger onboard EV battery. In general, the latest BEVs have a zero-emission range between 150 to 400 kms, while PHEVs average closer to 50 kms. Given the significant increase in electric range, improvement in EV charging infrastructure and attractive government grants, BEVs are fast becoming the preferred type of electric vehicle to own!
Lower tailpipe emissions and lower air pollution i.e. improves air quality in the immediate area. |
Significantly cheaper to recharge a full EV battery, compared to filling a full tank of petrol/ diesel. An EV battery can be charged for as little as €10, while filling a tank of fuel is over €100! |
Cheaper to drive per km, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. An EV costs less than 5 cents per km to drive. |
Lower maintenance costs, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Pure electric cars have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong! |
Lower noise pollution, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Noise pollution is as detrimental on health, as air pollution! |
A vast range of fantastic EV available on sale, for all budgets and aspirations. EVs have come a long way since the introduction of the first generation all-electric Nissan Leaf in 2010. |
Attractive government subsidies to support the uptake of electric cars. Take advantage while still available. |
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