Hyundai starts pre-orders for Kona Electric

Last Monday, Hyundai started accepting pre-orders for the Kona Electric in South Korea.

The much awaited electric version of Hyundai Kona will have its powertrain (battery and motor) made by LG Chem. Depending on the version chosen, the 150 kW electric motor will be powered by a 39,2 or 64 kWh battery. While the 39,2 kWh battery will be enough for more than 240 km (149 miles) range, the 64 kWh will get at least 390 km (242 miles). These figures are from the South Korean test cycle, which gets very similar results to the EPA’s.

In South Korea, before incentives Hyundai Kona Electric will cost between 43 million and 48 million KRW (33.016 and 36.840 euros). The electric version will still be much more expensive than its gas counterpart, which in most European countries can be bought for less than 20.000 euros.

Regarding size, there are also differences, since the electric version is slightly larger than the gas counterpart, let’s see:

Hyundai Kona

• Length: 4.165 mm
• Width: 1.800 mm
• Height: 1.550 mm
• Wheelbase: 2.600 mm

Hyundai Kona Electric

• Length: 4.180 mm (+ 15 mm)
• Width: 1.800 mm
• Height: 1.555 mm (+ 5 mm)
• Wheelbase: 2.600 mm

Let’s add the Chevrolet Bolt EV to the comparison…

Chevrolet Bolt EV

• Length: 4.170 mm
• Width: 1.770 mm
• Height: 1.600 mm
• Wheelbase: 2.600 mm

With its powertrain also provided by LG Chem and similar dimensions, it’s clear that the Chevrolet Bolt EV is the most direct alternative to the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Furthermore, knowing that competition is coming, GM recently announced that the company will make 5.000 units of the Bolt EV available this year to South Korean customers. Much better than the 600 units sent to South Korea last year.

When compared to the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Hyundai Kona Electric has some advantages.

1. It’s a Hyundai, this means that its warranty will be much better.
2. Adaptive cruise control. It’s unbelievable that the Bolt EV has the radars needed for AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and it’s lacking adaptive cruise control…
3. Having a entry-level battery option (39,2 kWh) will make it cheaper.

As much as I like the Chevrolet Bolt EV, it seems that all the good parts come from LG Chem, while its worst aspects come from Chevrolet.

Anyway, first deliveries in South Korea are scheduled for the first half of this year. Europe will be next, then North America and the rest of the world. Hyundai Kona Electric’s arrival will benefit the most European customers, since the Opel Ampera-e seems a futureless project in this continent.

What do you think about the Hyundai Kona Electric?

Update: it seems that the battery cells will be NCM 622 and not NCM 811.