The Hyundai Kona Electric has been spotted in India on different occasions testing in the Indian weather, traffic and road conditions. The electric vehicle is due to launch a month from now on the 9th of July 2019 and a few important details of the electric SUV have been revealed, with more details coming to us as the launch dates get closer.
The Kona Electric SUV is expected to be launched around the INR 25 lakh mark and the pricing is expected to be achieved by bringing the e-SUV via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route, which will cut down the initial cost of the EV. The e-SUV is also expected to get a small amount of localisation and is likely to avoid the CBU route. With this import and assemble strategy, the company expects to sell around 500 units per a year of the Kona electric SUV.
While the sales target might seem modest, it is because India is a country predominantly demanding diesel SUVs. Making a switch in this segment to electric is a new concept to digest, and the Hyundai Kona with its capabilities and driving range is set to defy that.
The Kona Electric comes with a driving range of around 290 km and when launched, in India it will become the countries first long-range electric SUV. To further reduce the range-anxiety which is common among first-time electric car buyers, the brand is looking forward to install quick charging stations at their dealerships and also equip the car with a home charger as a standard part of the pack.
In the international market, the e-SUV is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) with a power output of 139 PS with a front wheel drive and a single-speed transmission. The electric motor is connected to a 39 kWh battery that offers a range of 288 km on a single charge. However, there is a more powerful 204 PS motor with a larger 64 kWh battery which delivers a range of 446 km, the later is not expected to be India bound, as of now.
