The popularity of electric cars continues to grow, as these cars are a convenient and economical way to move around the city.
Every year, more and more new models are released, which can travel around 400 km on a single charge, making these vehicles more and more versatile. However, the year 2024 has started with a new debate. The topic is the true potential of electric cars.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (Publicity image)
The electric car Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was recognized as the best car of 2023 in the annual awards of the TopGear.com portal of car lovers. The sports car, which was first unveiled last summer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, was created as a nice alternative for people who want to try something electrified. This aspect has also become a new topic for discussion: is an electric car suitable not only for everyday life, but also for weekend trips on the race track?
“Total Madness”
Every year, the jury of TopGear.com determines its best car of the year, choosing from the models that evoke the strongest emotions for motorsport enthusiasts in different price segments. In the last ten years, such sports cars as BMW i8, Ford Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, as well as 2021 and 2022 winners – Hyundai i20 N and Honda Civic Type-R have triumphed here. The electric model has managed to win this competition only once – in 2019, the Porsche Taycan took the laurels.
There is a very simple explanation for this – you can count on the fingers of one hand how many purebred sports electric cars are currently available on the market, so fans of this type of car do not even consider purchasing an electric vehicle. Electric cars boast excellent dynamics thanks to instantly available maximum torque, but their handling has so far lagged behind internal combustion cars.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (Publicity photo)
Founded a few years ago, Hyundai’s sports division, or N division, has already demonstrated its talent. The South Korean brand’s engineers, who are close to Germany’s famous Nürburgring race track on a daily basis, have already made a name for themselves in Europe with the sporty Hyundai i20 N (2021 award winner), i30 N and Kona N. Now they are ready to focus on electric powertrains as well.
“It’s complete madness,” is how TopGear.com editors described the new Ioniq 5 N in their characteristic style. The jury was impressed by its electric power unit. Compared to the standard Ioniq 5, the sporty N version boasts a significantly larger battery, better cooling and brakes. The electric motors of this sporty model can develop up to 21,000 revolutions per minute and provide 609 horsepower under normal conditions. By activating the N Grin Boost function, it is possible to carry even 650 horsepower for 10 seconds. The Ioniq 5 N accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and can develop a speed of 250 km/h on the track.
This model allows us to enjoy a similar feeling to what we are used to in cars with an internal combustion engine and transmission, and it is phenomenal. Hyundai has ingeniously figured out how to use the transmission – here the operation of the gearbox of internal combustion cars is simulated with torque regulation. In other electric models, we simply activate the Drive mode and forget about gears, but here it is different. Of course, an imitation is and remains an imitation, however, for some people, such a solution could go to the heart. This could be the model that will change the perception of the electric car.
Tom Timoshko, reviewer of Klubs auto magazine
Towards a solution
In the new Hyundai N e-shift, the shift control mimics the traditional 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that is commonly used in N division models with an internal combustion engine. On the other hand, the N Active Sound+ system creates a roar characteristic of sports models, providing drivers with additional emotions.
Elektroauto baterija (Shutterstock photo)
It also has a sports suspension with adaptive shock absorbers that adapt to the selected driving mode, electronic rear differential lock, bucket seats, variable torque distribution between the front and rear axles, as well as other advanced technologies from the Hyundai E-GMP electric car platform.
This car is able to simulate not only gear changes, but also how the classic engine rev limiter works, because there is a virtual rev counter. Such a solution could appeal to those who care not only about power and torque, but also about other sensations.
Tom Timoshko, reviewer of Klubs auto magazine
But he is confident that it will take time for manufacturers to tackle perhaps the biggest challenge of electric sports cars. Powerful and efficient electric cars require larger and more capacious batteries. However, the bigger the battery, the heavier the car. Therefore, engineers constantly have to find a balance between these factors. Also, the chassis must be improved – it must be ensured that a heavier car is well controlled in turns, that it is stable on rough roads and that driving is always comfortable.
I think this technology has a future. Currently, the full potential is prevented by the weight of the batteries, but in 5-10 years, I think, the so-called solid-state batteries will be popular. Their weight and performance should significantly outperform current batteries.
Tom Timoshko, reviewer of Klubs auto magazine
Perhaps, we don’t have to wait long until a light electric car appears on the market, which will be not only dynamic, but also agile. Also, it is not insignificant that the electric motor is a fairly simple element, so it can be programmed to simulate internal combustion engines.
Enthusiasts are looking for cars that are fun to race on. They want the drive to be special and to be in control of the car themselves – accelerating, braking, adjusting weight distribution and shifting gears. So far, the electric car has not been able to provide this. Even though new cars are moving away from this concept, it is only a matter of time before we can also drive an electric car in a sporty manner. I think that manufacturers will go this way, because there is a demand for such models. And I am sure that the next generation of batteries will also solve the weight problems of electric cars.
Tom Timoshko, reviewer of Klubs auto magazine
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2024-01-24 11:17:27
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