Hyundai has announced the European version of the Ioniq Electric will get a larger battery and more range starting in September. The current car has a 28 kWh battery and an EPA range of 124 miles. The new battery will be 38.3 kWh and have a range of 183 miles using the WLTP standard (which is far too optimistic, so not comparable to the EPA rating). There is no word on whether the upgraded battery will be available in the US market or when, but expect the EPA range to be 10–12% less than the WLTP range, according to Autoblog.
In addition to the larger battery, the Ioniq Electric will get a more powerful motor — 134 horsepower versus 118. Torque will remain the same at 218 foot-pounds. The onboard charger will also get a bit more muscular — 7.2 kW versus 6.6 kW. A full charge using a 100 kW charger will take 50 minutes, Hyundai says. No pricing details have been released as of yet.
Hyundai and Kia have succeeded at making very efficient electric cars. Kyle Field reviewed the Ioniq Electric and found it averages just over 5 miles per kWh. It is rated 150 MPGe in the city and 122 MPGe on the highway — both impressive numbers for any current electric car. In the US, unfortunately, the Ioniq Electric has only been available in California and the other states that follow CARB’s lead on vehicle emissions.
All versions of the Ioniq get some new exterior trim updates and a lot of new goodies inside. Engadget says the Blue Link app will allow drivers to control the AC and monitor battery levels remotely. Controlling and scheduling charging will also be possible.
Hyundai’s SmartSense driver assistance and safety systems are included in all models as well. Owners will get free access for five years to Hyundai’s Live Services function, which offers satellite navigation along with local charging station, weather, traffic, and parking information.
Hyundai says the Ioniq electric will have “one pedal driving” capability, thanks to a paddle mounted behind the steering wheel on the left that will allow drivers to avoid using the foot brake in most circumstances.
Hyundai and Kia offer some of the best electric cars that aren’t Teslas on the road today. They are affordably priced, attractively styled, and packed with electronic features. Both companies are struggling to find an adequate supply of batteries, however, which means there is far more demand for their electric cars than they can meet.
Elon Musk has always challenged the other car companies to build competitive electric cars. So far, only Hyundai and Kia seem to have made a serious attempt to meet that challenge. When and if a Hyundai Ioniq Electric with the larger battery comes available in the US, CleanTechnica will drive it and offer our readers a full report.
Source: cleantechnica
