The Hyundai Kona is available as a petrol or fully electric version in Australia. (Unlike the Ioniq range, there is no plug-in hybrid version and a hybrid version has only recently been released overseas. No announcement has yet been made as to whether the Kona hybrid will be brought to Australia.)
The Kona electric is described as a small ‘crossover’ SUV. The electric version is front-wheel drive only, unlike the petrol version which has an AWD option.
The Kona electric received many motoring awards in 2018 for its innovative, highly efficient electric drive system and class-leading driving range. Offered overseas with two battery options (39kWh & 64kWh), in Australia it is only offered as the 64kWh version.
Reviewers have been effusive in their praise for the Kona electric and have called it a ‘game changer’ for building acceptance of EVs by the general public – it’s a competitively priced, well-appointed and real alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles.
Worldwide sales of the Kona electric began in late 2018 but it has been a staggered release as deliveries have been hampered by demand far exceeding supply. Australian deliveries began in late March 2019.
For the 2020 model year, the 200mm touchscreen was widened to 250mm.
Hyundai Kona Electric Variants
| Variant | Battery (kWh) | WLTP Range (km) | EPA Range (km) | Power Output (kW) | Maximum Torque (Nm) | Plug Types (AC/DC) | Max Charge Rate (AC/DC) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kona Electric | 64 | 484 | 415 | 130 | 285 | Type 2 (AC) CCS2 (DC) | 7/100 | $59,990 |
| 2022 Kona Electric | 64 | 484 | 415 | 150 | 395 | Type 2 (AC) CCS2 (DC) | 10.5/100 | $62,000 |
DRIVING RANGE
The Kona Electric has a quoted range of 449 km under the new European WLTP test cycle (which are not yet mandated in Australia), and 557 km using the current Australian mandated test cycle. Real world driving range however is closer to 420 km.
The Kona will, at its limit, make a round-trip from the Melbourne CBD to Ararat and back – provided neither the heating or air conditioning are used. For this sort of trip, a 30 min to 1hr top-up AC charge over lunch in Ararat, or a 5 – 10 min DC fast charge (none yet available on this route) is recommended.
CHARGING SPEEDS/REQUIREMENTS
Charging port
The Kona Electric is fitted with a CCS2 socket allowing it to charge via AC as well as via CCS2 DC fast-chargers.
It can be charged at any AC EVSE, however an adaptor is needed to use EVSEs fitted with Type 1 plugs.
AC charging
Although fitted with the 3 phase type 2 AC socket as part of the CCS2 system, the Kona electric charges using single phase AC only at a maximum of 7.2kW (32A).
Charging speeds vary on the capacity of the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) it is connected to and the chosen battery size. Charging times are shown in the table below.
DC fast charging
The Kona electric uses the CCS2 fast-charge connector. This connector is becoming the majority type of DC fast-charge connector in both Australia and overseas.
Hyundai Kona Electric Time to Charge (hrs)
| Variant | Battery size (kWh) | 10A socket | 16A 1 phase (3.6kW) | 32A 1 phase (7.2kW) | 16A 3 phase (11kW) | DC Fast Charge (50kW) | DC Fast charge (100kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kona Electric | 64 | 28h | 19h | 9h35 | 19h | 75m (to 80%) | 54m (to 80%) |
| 2021 Kona Electric | 64 | 28h | 18h30 | 9h15 | 6h50 | 75m (to 80%) | 47m (to 80%) |
Home charging considerations
To get the shortest home charging time for a Kona electric, a 7.2kW AC EVSE is needed.
However, depending on your existing power supply and/or charging needs, it may only be practical to fit a lower rated EVSE. Lower capacity EVSEs will increase charging times, as shown in table 1 above.
The Kona comes with an ‘in-cable control box’ (ICCB) for plugging into a power point. Charging with the ICCB will take approx. 28hrs to reach full-charge from empty.
Hyundai Kona Electric Specifications
| Variant | Cargo space (litres) | Cargo Space with rear seats folded (litres) | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Width with mirrors (mm) | Height (mm) | Tow Rating (braked / unbraked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kona Electric | 332 | 1114 | 4180 | 1800 | 2070 | 1570 | |
| 2019 Kona Electric | 332 | 1114 | 4180 | 1800 | 2070 | 1555 |
