Three electric cars Hyundai Kona Electric set a record in the range among the company’s electric cars. The challenge was clear: each car had to travel over 1000 km on a single charge.
photo: Hyundai–
Individual cars ran out of electricity after driving 1018.7 km, 1024.1 km and 1026.0 km. With regard to the capacity of the 64 kWh battery pack, other record values were set for individual cars. Electricity consumption was 6.28, 6.25 and 6.24 kWh / 100 km. These results are well below the standard consumption of 14.7 kWh / 100 km according to the methodology WLTP.
All Kona Electric vehicles tested at the Lausitzring came from series production and was without any additional modifications. According to the WLTP methodology, their range is 484 kilometers.
In addition, behind the wheel of three 150 kW city SUVs, a three-day test alternating different drivers and vehicle assistance systems remained intact. These two aspects are also important factors that reinforce the importance of Hyundai’s range mission.
Record holder: Hyundai Kona Electric electric car
photo: Hyundai
Dekra, a professional testing company operating the Lausitzring since 2017, oversaw the proper and smooth running of a successful attempt at record economy. Dekra engineers monitored the tested vehicles and documented all 36 driver rotations.
Economical driving as a challenge
As no mainstream brand has yet undergone such a practical test, due diligence has been exercised with regard to preliminary estimates and expectations.
Hyundai engineers and Thilo Klemm, heads of the after-sales service training center, calculated a theoretical range of 984 to 1,066 kilometers in a simulated ride at the average speed achieved in urban traffic. This was a challenge for the teams, as economical driving required concentration and patience in summer weather.
Elektromobily Hyundai Kona Electric
photo: Hyundai
At the Lausitzring, three teams competed: a team of test drivers from the renowned motoring magazine Auto Bild, a team of technicians from Hyundai Motor Deutschland’s after-sales service department, and a team of members of its press and product marketing departments.
Although the use of air conditioning was not banned, no team wanted to risk that air-conditioned driving at outdoor temperatures of up to 29 ° C would take important kilometers off the range. For the same reason The multimedia system of the Kona Electric electric car also remained switched off at all times.
The electricity supply was thus used exclusively for propulsion. Only the daytime running lights were switched on in accordance with road traffic regulations. The cars drove on standard Nexen Nfera SU1 tires of size 215/55 R 17 with low rolling resistance.
The average speed of teams on a route of more than a thousand kilometers ranged from 29 to 31 km / h. Although it may seem like a slow ride at first glance, these speeds are achieved under normal urban traffic conditions, including rush hours, waiting at traffic lights and passing through residential areas with a 30 km / h zone speed limit.
“Kona Electric demonstrated the potential of an economical and environmentally friendly lifestyle SUV in this test,” says Jürgen Keller, CEO of Hyundai Motor Deutschland GmbH. “These results confirm the suitability of this electric car for everyday operation and also show that concerns about the short range of electric cars should be a thing of the past.”
Extremely reliable charge status indicator
On the eve of the record-breaking rides, Dekra engineers checked the technical condition of all three Kona Electric electric cars and considered them.
In addition, experts compared mileage indicators and sealed the OBD interface, the bonnet opening handle under the instrument panel and the charging socket cover on the front bumper to eliminate the possibility of vehicle manipulation that could affect results.
Then the almost thirty-five-hour drive was started. Hyundai’s fleet of electric cars circled quietly around the race track. The revival was brought about by driver exchanges, during which the cruise control settings were discussed, the current electricity consumption was displayed by the on-board computer and the best, ie. the most economical entrance to the bends on the track in the shape of a triangle 3.2 kilometers long.
In the early afternoon of the third day, the first warning appeared on the display of the electric cars. If the battery charge level drops below 8%, the Hyundai Kona Electric on-board computer recommends connecting the vehicle to the mains.
Hyundai Kona Electric
photo: Hyundai
As soon as the remaining amount of electricity drops below 3% of the total capacity, the electric car switches to emergency mode with reduced electric motor power. However, this did not affect the driver in any way, and the vehicles managed to cover another 20 kilometers with their remaining three percent of the original electricity supply during their economical driving.
“The attempt for the longest range showed us a very harmonious cooperation between the high-voltage batteries and the power electronics of the Kona Electric model,” says Juan Carlos Quintana, head of a journalism workshop hosted by Hyundai Motor Deutschland.
“It is also significant that all three cars tested covered almost the same number of kilometers. This represents extremely small production variations. “
Another important finding during the test was high reliability of the charge status indicator. In addition, the indicator adapts to changes in the driver’s driving style. At a zero-state state of charge, the car continues to drive for a few hundred meters, then continues with inertia without a drive, and finally stops with a slight jerk, because the parking brake is activated for safety reasons.
“I congratulate all the participants in this successful attempt at a record range, which confirmed that our Kona Electric is affordable, immediately available and very economical.” says Michael Cole, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe.
“This lifestyle-oriented car combines the attractive design of a compact SUV with the benefits of an eco-friendly electric car. This means that all customers who opt for the Kona Electric model buy a vehicle with a range of sophisticated technologies that are also suitable for everyday use. ”
Hyundai Kona Electric is the most successful model of the Hyundai brand with electric drive in Germany
The result is supported by the introduction of production of the Kona Electric model to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC) plant in Nošovice, Czech Republic. HMMC has been producing an electric version of the battery-powered lifestyle SUV since March 2020.
As a result, Hyundai has significantly shortened delivery times for new electric cars, and thanks to this, Kona Electric is one of the best-selling electric cars and the best-selling battery-powered SUV in Europe with almost 25,000 cars sold so far in 2020.
Press Release
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