Hyundai Kona Electric: Two Battery Options, Up To 210-Mile Range Range is a pretty important performance metric in the electric vehicle world, more being better. Now, it looks like the 2018 Hyundai Kona Electric will be competitive in this area and offer the option of a 64.2 kWh battery to complement the base 39.2 kWh pack. Range estimates were given in one report as 500 km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), which is being translated as a real-world 210 miles. Also noted in this report, the motor puts out the same 150 kW (201.2 hp) as the Chevy Bolt. As LG Chem may be responsible for engineering both cars, it's being speculated that they might even share the same motor. If, as predicted, Hyundai can get the base price below $40,000 in the U.S., it should be pretty competitive with other electric offerings. A gasoline-burning version will be released first,though, and it may prove to be the Electric version biggest competitor, depending on the price difference. Interestingly, Hyundai's media sites don't yet mention an all-electric Kona, so it may only launch as a 2019 model.
If this has remote thermal management, I would get this vehicle. I'm hoping the Ioniq gets remote thermal management and a 60+KW battery
They totally stole the design from the ugly Jeep Cherokee, but I guess ugly has worked for some EVs in the past so not a bad idea
YES Thermal management is Key. We have had 14 KIA SOUL EV's that use air cooling and all 14 battery packs have failed. This is not sustainable for the automaker or owner or the World.
Pre-order started in Korea. The order goes like this. 1. Korea 2. Europe 3. Canada 4. US Looks like Hyundai/Kia doesn't think the US market is important. They shipped more Ioniq BEV to Canada than to the US. It's a good strategy since US dealerships are lousy. https://pushevs.com/2018/01/17/hyundai-starts-pre-orders-kona-electric/
If you look at the sale numbers for all of Hyundai/Kia plug-ins over the past few years you will see the same thing. And this same trend will probably continue with their new offerings. At best we can probably expect 150-200 a month sales in the US. At worst, we can expect Ioniq numbers. They will be mostly in CARB states, with a few dealers in non-CARB states that are willing to stock 1 or 2 at a time.
I tried to get the Ioniq BEV in Southern California. The dealers we're bunch of con. They would not honor the unlimited plan at that price. I got mad and got the Honda Clarity BEV.