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Hyundai Kona EV Range Discussion

15333 Views 30 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  dg1dussault
Reading on Green Car Reports, I've found that the EV iteration of the Hyundai Kona will get 217 miles of range.

Electric range is rumored to hover around 217 miles from a 50-kilowatt-hour battery, though an EPA range rating for that size pack could be rather lower.
Once it doesn't get much lower than that, I should be okay as that'll suffice for my commutes and even my potential "longer" trips. Especially with the apps we have now to plot out charging stations, it shouldn't be that bad.

Would be interested to see power output on it first though. EVs are definitely performing better and better these days without you having to go out and buy a Tesla so the Kona shouldn't be that bad.

Hyundai Kona small SUV revealed, with electric version to come
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Comparing that battery and range to a booming EV right now, the Chevy Bolt, this Kona is about on par with it. Bolt has a 60-kWh battery with 238 mile range. If you really do the math and see which is better the Kona comes out on top.
Hyundai publicly said the Kona will have almost 470 kilometers, at least that's what was quoted on The Drive. That works out to be around 292 miles, which would beat the segment leader right now and that's the Bolt. Please let them deliver on this number! Even better if they understated the range so as not to disappoint people.
Hyundai publicly said the Kona will have almost 470 kilometers, at least that's what was quoted on The Drive. That works out to be around 292 miles, which would beat the segment leader right now and that's the Bolt. Please let them deliver on this number! Even better if they understated the range so as not to disappoint people.
Its basically a poor mans Tesla Model X once you compare the ranges. Its the best play Hyundai can put on right now given the fact Tesla's are what everyone wants, but not too many can afford. At over $150,000 the Model X is far out of reach.
At this point, the Kona's range is merely an estimate, and I'd like to see some real world testing of its actual capability. It easy for companies to say how far an EV will go, but thats most likely at low speeds and with no cargo or passengers. It may very well outclass the Bolt, which is impressive considering its a larger and heavier vehicle.
It looks like the Kona electric's range has been officially confirmed. The base model, featuring a 39.2kWH battery back, gives it a range of up to 186 miles. The long range version includes a 64kWH battery back that allows it to travel up to 292 miles. Apparently it will take approximately 54 minutes to charge to 80% using a 100kW DC fast charger. Pretty impressive numbers out of one of the first electric CUV's.
Haven't charged to 100% yet since I got the car (May 1). But at 80% it shows 406 kms, which extrapolates to 508 kms at 100%. Lot more than the spec (415)!! This is basically the same as my son's Tesla Model 3 with the larger 75 kWh battery. And he doesn't get anywhere near his stated range, which is the opposite of mine, where I am actually exceeding it at this time (mostly city driving so far).
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I find it very interesting that almost exactly 2 years ago, the Kona EV was projected/estimated/going to have ~200 miles of range.

When actually delivered, less than 2 years later, it looks like that has more than doubled past 400 miles of range!

What will we see in another 2 years?
I find it very interesting that almost exactly 2 years ago, the Kona EV was projected/estimated/going to have ~200 miles of range.

When actually delivered, less than 2 years later, it looks like that has more than doubled past 400 miles of range!

What will we see in another 2 years?
No, don't confuse kms with miles. 508 kms is 315 miles.
Haven't charged to 100% yet since I got the car (May 1). But at 80% it shows 406 kms, which extrapolates to 508 kms at 100%. Lot more than the spec (415)!! This is basically the same as my son's Tesla Model 3 with the larger 75 kWh battery. And he doesn't get anywhere near his stated range, which is the opposite of mine, where I am actually exceeding it at this time (mostly city driving so far).
Mine charged up to 445km @100% this morning for first time.
Considering, when i first got it, it was at 386 full charge.
I usually drive efficient but every now and then, i hammer it. So im happy with those numbers so far.
I charged up to 100% last night. This morning the range estimate was 537 km (335 mi) in Eco mode with the climate system off. At this time of year I mostly have the climate system off and the sunroof open.
Mine charged up to 445km @100% this morning for first time.
Considering, when i first got it, it was at 386 full charge.
I usually drive efficient but every now and then, i hammer it. So im happy with those numbers so far.
From what I have heard, range is less in colder weather. So be sure to turn off the winter setting.

I think it uses your past driving efficiency history to calculate range. I have only been driving mostly city so far and use the ECO mode (I like the auto regen braking without having to use paddles). I think ECO also optimizes climate control. My wife likes driving in ECO mode better, too.

There is a bit of an adjustment though, when we (occasionally) drive our ICE car. The throttle is more sensitive, and really likes to coast (need to use the brakes to slow down and stop).
I charged up to 100% last night. This morning the range estimate was 537 km (335 mi) in Eco mode with the climate system off. At this time of year I mostly have the climate system off and the sunroof open.
Bjorn Nyland, the Norwegian EV car tester, calls range estimate gauge a GOM (guess-o-meter). I found following reference a good source for estimating what you can expect in both good & poor driving conditions, using different testing methods. I found tested Kona performance in city driving remarkable. But these are formal test conditions, and few drive like that.

https://ev-database.org/car/1126/Hyundai-Kona-Electric-64-kWh
Probably should have recommended you check out Bjorn Nyland’s reviews of Kona. He does things I’d rather avoid:
Doing range tests in summer & winter. He managed 530 km cruising on highways at the official test speed of 90kmh (actually drove at 94kmh to allow for speedometer error).
Hypermiling by driving on a flat circuit for 20 hours @ 40kmh to achieve a range of 810km.

As I said worth a look.

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I've owned my Kona EV for a month and just passed 3,000 miles/4,800 km. Most of that has been typical city/suburban driving in a flat topography. I have not had a chance to really test the listed range with the odometer for any meaningful distance, with just the car engine, the driver's side fan and radio on until yesterday. I started with a 90% charge at my home, drove to an appointment 90 miles away keeping the cruise control set at 72 mph/115 kph and the regen set at Level 2, on fairly flat road and when I reached my destination the 259 range my guess-o-meter started with was down to 131 miles...a drop of 128 miles when I drove 90 actual miles. I was in a rush and decided to risk getting home without an additional charge, but dropped the regen to 0 and drove at 65 mph the 90 miles back home. I got home with 8 miles of range supposedly left, meaning the guess-o-meter dropped 123 miles when I only drove 90 miles of easy highway driving at the speed limit. No big hills. Dry conditions. Temperatures ranged from 63 to 70 degrees F over the entire trip. The guess-o-meter looks good when I get in and it tells me I have around 250 miles of range, but I seem to be yielding close to 180, which is a huge disappointment. I had been holding out for an affordable electric with 240+ miles of range, as I can cover that many miles often. 180 miles, on what might be the perfect EV day, no air conditioning to heating, on a route with only gentle grades is a huge disappointment. LOVE the car for city driving. But I did not buy it for city driving. Am I doing something wrong? Should regen be at 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 when driving or does it even matter? I general charge to a limit of 80% but went to 90% for this trip. I live in a cold climate on the US/Canadian border. I had projected that 250 miles of range in good conditions would yield closed to 160-180 in cold weather. But that is likely off, too. Any suggestions?
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I've owned my Kona EV for a month and just passed 3,000 miles/4,800 km. Most of that has been typical city/suburban driving in a flat topography. I have not had a chance to really test the listed range with the odometer for any meaningful distance, with just the car engine, the driver's side fan and radio on until yesterday. I started with a 90% charge at my home, drove to an appointment 90 miles away keeping the cruise control set at 72 mph/115 kph and the regen set at Level 2, on fairly flat road and when I reached my destination the 259 range my guess-o-meter started with was down to 131 miles...a drop of 128 miles when I drove 90 actual miles. I was in a rush and decided to risk getting home without an additional charge, but dropped the regen to 0 and drove at 65 mph the 90 miles back home. I got home with 8 miles of range supposedly left, meaning the guess-o-meter dropped 123 miles when I only drove 90 miles of easy highway driving at the speed limit. No big hills. Dry conditions. Temperatures ranged from 63 to 70 degrees F over the entire trip. The guess-o-meter looks good when I get in and it tells me I have around 250 miles of range, but I seem to be yielding close to 180, which is a huge disappointment. I had been holding out for an affordable electric with 240+ miles of range, as I can cover that many miles often. 180 miles, on what might be the perfect EV day, no air conditioning to heating, on a route with only gentle grades is a huge disappointment. LOVE the car for city driving. But I did not buy it for city driving. Am I doing something wrong? Should regen be at 0 or 1 or 2 or 3 when driving or does it even matter? I general charge to a limit of 80% but went to 90% for this trip. I live in a cold climate on the US/Canadian border. I had projected that 250 miles of range in good conditions would yield closed to 160-180 in cold weather. But that is likely off, too. Any suggestion?
There’s a bit around on range variability. Depending on conditions and driving style the Kona Electric will get between 280 (highway in cold weather) & 595 (city in warm weather) km per full charge - see link below that lists (nearly) all EV specs. All vehicles require you to adapt to conditions, but EVs require more adaptation than other cars I’m afraid. Anyway, hope this helps.

European EV database
There’s a bit around on range variability. Depending on conditions and driving style the Kona Electric will get between 280 (highway in cold weather) & 595 (city in warm weather) km per full charge - see link below that lists (nearly) all EV specs. All vehicles require you to adapt to conditions, but EVs require more adaptation than other cars I’m afraid. Anyway, hope this helps.

European EV database
Thanks for the link (and the line: "I am not young enough to know everything". I guess I need to learn more. For today's highway commute I drove 168 miles/270 km round trip, starting at a 79% charge and a supposed range of 224 mile/360km. I made it home with 30 miles/48 km left, listing a 9% charge. No air conditioning, no heat, windows closed at 61 degrees F/16 C and at the speed limit of 65 mph/110 kph on pretty flat roads. I will do more testing and research. I think I trusted some of the performance reports on this site and others of people achieving 250-300 miles in a Kona EV, too much in making a buying decision. In the US, hybrids and traditional fuel vehicles have to list the miles per gallon expected in highway driving and city driving separately. A number of manufacturers were found to be using inflated numbers. I was hoping we were past those days. Time will tell on my Kona, but I am not hopeful.
Thanks for the link (and the line: "I am not young enough to know everything". I guess I need to learn more. For today's highway commute I drove 168 miles/270 km round trip, starting at a 79% charge and a supposed range of 224 mile/360km. I made it home with 30 miles/48 km left, listing a 9% charge. No air conditioning, no heat, windows closed at 61 degrees F/16 C and at the speed limit of 65 mph/110 kph on pretty flat roads. I will do more testing and research. I think I trusted some of the performance reports on this site and others of people achieving 250-300 miles in a Kona EV, too much in making a buying decision. In the US, hybrids and traditional fuel vehicles have to list the miles per gallon expected in highway driving and city driving separately. A number of manufacturers were found to be using inflated numbers. I was hoping we were past those days. Time will tell on my Kona, but I am not hopeful.
Yeah, but sometimes the reps from manufacturers (or at least dealers) appear to be unaware. I was talking to sales at my Hyundai dealer shortly after they released EVs in Aus & he was ignorant of the differences between city/highway & warm/cold driving effects. When I commented on hyundai’s much higher city range compared to highway he was literally shocked - said he’d just been through a week of EV training & they had told him EVs were more economical in open road driving than in stop-start traffic. Which was true a few years back when regen braking was fairly primitive, at least by today’s standards.
Thanks for the line: "I am not young enough to know everything".
I really like the quote. It’s from J M Barrie play “The Admirable Crichton”. Which in turn was a dig at Oscar Wilde’s “the old believe everything; the middle-aged suspect everything; the young know everything”.
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