Hyundai is set to launch its first electric car in India called the Kona. The launch date is expected to be 9th July 2019 and the car will be identical in terms of design to the Kona powered by an internal combustion engine which is available in the international market. The key differentiator will be the grille and alloy wheels specific to the EV. The electric SUV was spotted testing in India a few weeks back.
The Kona in the international market features 17-inch alloy wheels, full LED twin headlights, LED tail lights, power adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated steering wheel, button type shift-by-wire technology, 7 different exterior colour options with contrasting roof colours, etc. The Hyundai Kona Electric comes with two infotainment options in the international market, a 7.0-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and an 8.0-inch optional touchscreen infotainment system with 3D navigation and other connectivity features such as weather, real-time traffic, music app, USB, Bluetooth connectivity, Aux, etc.
The Kona is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor connected to a lithium-ion, 39kWh battery with an optional 64kWh battery which delivers a real-world range of 312 km and 482 km respectively on a single charge. For the Indian market, only the 39kW model is expected to be launched. The electric drivetrain generates an equivalent of 136 Hp of power and 395 Nm of torque. The Kona can sprint from 0-100 kmph in 9.7 seconds and do a top speed of 155 kmph. The lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80% in 54 minutes using a 100kW DC fast charger, or from a standard AC charger which takes 6 hours and 10 minutes to achieve the same.
The Kona is expected to be assembled locally to keep the prices in check. The Kona Electric is expected to be priced around INR 25 lakh ex-showroom in India and Hyundai doesn’t really care much about sales volumes with this car, but will be a good brand building exercise.