Hyundai Kona EV will act as a technology showcase for the brand and is expected to have 350 km driving range on a single charge
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) will be launching the electric version of Kona on July 9 and we will be there to cover you everything on it. It is expected to be priced around Rs. 25 lakh (ex-showroom). The lower capacity 39 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack capable of 350 km driving range on a single charge will likely be the only choice for Indian customers.
Initially, the Kona EV will reportedly be sold in limited numbers and seeing the response Hyundai could consider exporting the model from its Sriperumbudur facility in the near future. The zero-emission Kona had already been showcased in India twice and it will act as a technology demonstrator for the South Korean brand.
It will be interesting to see how it fares locally as Nissan will also be introducing the Leaf electric hatchback sometime this year. In global markets, Hyundai has announced a range of new additions for the electrified Kona as part of the 2020 Model Year update.
Hyundai has upgraded the 11 kW three-phase charger this time around as it will enable faster charging on home wall boxes and public stations. The Kona EV comes with 7.2 kW onboard charger helping in instantly plugging in and out from a normal household plug, as it can be replenished in nine hours and 35 minutes but we do not know the improved charging time yet.
The cabin gets a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity along with updated sat-nav. Just as the soon-arriving Venue sub-four-metre SUV, the Kona EV also receives Blue Link connectivity with a number of technological features.
Climate control can be activated automatically, so is the unlocking of doors and cranking of the engine using the smartphone application. Customers can also choose eCall service function from the option list as it triggers emergency response during an accident and the rear seats can be had with heated option as well. Deliveries of the 2020 Kona EV will begin towards the end of this year in Europe.