This is a rant.
I'm so disillusioned with both Hyundai and our crappy charging infrastructure, I am seriously looking into trading in my 2022 top of the line Ioniq 5 EV for a hybrid and not even a plug-in hybrid. I've given up on another EV regardless of which company it would be manufactured by.
I waited a long time for my EV (9 months after multiple delays) and see both Ford and GM don't have any leadership when it comes to EV designs. The GM fiasco with the Blazer EV on the Ultium platform is the latest disappointment. Withdrew my pre-order last year. Same with the misleading Ford Mach-e charge rate.
Our charging infrastructure made gains along the 401 corridor only. Had my first scare at an OnRoute centre with 4 chargers (3 were out of order, the 4th occupied by a F150 lightning). I was moving that day, the movers waiting at my new place, me waiting for the blazing fast speed of 25KW from the Lightning. That owner gave up and I got the spot and charged at 70KW. There weren't any other charging stations to go to near by.
I look at the competition and see either crap (hello Toyota BZ4X), long waits or I'm better off hanging on to my Ioniq 5. The latest disappointment from Hyundai is knowing I have to change the low-conductivity coolant every 3rd year. Not an issue except ... it'll cost me $3,000.00 or average $1,000.00 per year. There go my cost savings on oil changes and it cuts into my gas savings too. Poor design that, in subsequent model years, Hyundai eliminated it.
Now I know, all those positive reviews on YouTube weren't honest and they were just maintaining their status to get those new release and other event invites that they so desperately want. I suspect MotorMouth will wonder why can't we get new cars to review from Hyundai now, why don't we get event invites anymore? MotorMouth is the Canadian automotive review team that highlighted the crazy battery costs in which two different Hyundai owners of the Ioniq 5 were told it would cost over $60,000.00 to replace the battery so both cars were written off. Up go their insurance rates. Hyundai have a modular battery design in which repair was never a consideration.
The issue I am finding with hybrids are the long order wait times and nothing in stock I can choose. Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid has an 8 month wait - not for me - no sale. Their RAV4 hybrid has a 12 month wait - no sale. Honda CRV Hybrid is an option but I suspect the local dealer is misleading that they have them in stock. I'll find out when I return from the U.S. Hyundai and Kia hybrids - not touching either brand with a 10-foot pole.
I do know the hybrids will need oil changes and coolant changes so I will ask the right questions to determine if they use proprietary fluids or off-the-shelf products.
Am I disillusioned about my EV? No. Am I disillusioned about how Hyundai, GM, Ford, VW, et al, treat their customers and the whole scammy marketing by most YouTubers? Oh, yeah.