No official word yet from Hyundai
Since its launch in 2018, demand for the Hyundai Kona Electric (EV) has exceeded all expectations in South Korea and also Europe, thanks to its powerful electric drivetrain, long driving range and stylish SUV looks. This Kona EV which is priced from RM148,887 in England with government incentives has recorded a possible 279 miles electric driving range.
Here are some important statistics of the Kona electric vehicle.
- There is 395Nm of instant torque
- Acceleration of 0 to 100km/h is an impressive 7.6 seconds
- Max output 150 kW
- Top speed is 104 mph
- Fast charging option 1h 15min
- Normal charge (7.2kW) 9h 35min
In just two years, over 120,000 units have been sold globally, including more than 53,000 in Europe. In August, three production models set a new range record of 1,026 kilometres on a single battery charge at the Lausitzring in Germany. Meanwhile, in January, the Kona Electric made it into the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ under the category “Highest Altitude Achieved in an Electric Car”, after being driven to an altitude of 5,731 metres to Sawula Pass in Tibet.
In addition to these impressive feats, the sub-compact SUV also won many awards, making the list for the WardsAuto 10 Best Engine List for 2019 and earning the title “Affordable Electric Car of the Year” at the Auto Express New Car Awards. In April 2020 TopGear magazine named Kona Electric their “Best Small Family Car” in the inaugural TopGear Electric Awards, after it completed a 1,600-kilometre road trip across 9 European countries.
In March 2020, Hyundai started production of the Kona Electric at its Czech production plant, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC). This enables the company to significantly reduce customer waiting times for new electric cars.
Reuters has just reported that South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Co will end the domestic sales of its best-selling electric vehicle (EV), the Kona EV, after a series of fires and faulty braking systems prompted mass recalls.
Cable news channel YTN said Hyundai was reviewing the end of Kona EV sales in South Korea, while the JoongAng Daily cited an unidentified source as saying sales would continue in Europe.
The Kona EV ranks among Europe’s best-selling EVs. Sales of the model outside its home market account for over three-quarters of the total. In October, Hyundai recalled Kona EVs in South Korea due to the risk of short circuit possibly caused by faulty manufacturing of its high-voltage battery cells.
The recall, which includes software updates and battery replacements after inspections, involves 25,564 Kona EVs built during September 2017 to March 2020.
Hyundai has also recalled 50,864 Kona EV and Nexo fuel-cell vehicles in South Korea due to faulty electronic braking systems. Hyundai Malaysia had not launched this version due to its high asking price without enough government tax incentives. Only the petrol driven Kona was launched recently.
