‘Hyundai has now given us a compelling reason to consider an electric vehicle.’
FIRST DRIVES: HYUNDAI IONIQ DARREN MOODY
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yundai has stolen the march in bringing relatively affordable electric vehicles to Australia with the release of a threevehicle IONIQ range, which includes Hybrid (HEV), Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) and full Battery Electric (BEV) powertrains. Each model is available in two trim levels, mid-spec Elite or Premium. The headline act for me is the BEV. Featuring an 88kW 295Nm permanent magnet synchronous electric motor powered by 360v 28kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, allowing a realworld range of about 230km, this will alleviate range anxiety for a lot of prospective buyers. IONIQ is capable of being recharged to 80% capacity in around 23 minutes via a 100kW DC fast charger. A 6.6kW onboard AC charger can charge the battery in as little as 4 hours 25 minutes when connected to a charging station of equal or higher capacity. With the installation of a personal charging station, this will allow a full overnight charge at home. Drive is to the front wheels via a single-speed reduction gear transmission. The BEV also has a paddle-shift-operated regenerative function, with three regeneration levels and, when used effectively, will increase your range and reduce wear on brake pads. 26 Journeys
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019
2019 IONIQ Electric Premium.
On the road, the IONIQ BEV is pretty well like any other non-electric vehicle, with the absence of engine noise. There are three switchable drive modes, Eco, Regular and Sport, which add additional torque as you select each mode. The system was evident when holding a constant throttle position and changing modes. All models have had input from the Australian suspension engineering team to ensure the on-road drive and handling experience meets our standards and deals with our unique road conditions. If you still have range anxiety, you might consider the PHEV. This model will give you about 63km real-world driving range in EV mode, which more than covers the average commute distance, while offering the added peace of mind of a highly efficient Atkinson cycle petrol engine when the battery gets low. The PHEV has an 8.9kWh storage battery driving a 44kW 170Nm electric motor via a six-speed dual clutch auto transmission. Charge time via 240v is around two hours fifteen minutes. However, the PHEV can’t be charged via a DC fast charger. While you can operate the PHEV in EV mode, the petrol engine will seamlessly cut in under certain conditions including cold starts and when you might need more power
for fast acceleration or steeper inclines. The official rated combined fuel consumption for the PHEV is 1.1L/100km. Completing the three-vehicle range is the traditional hybrid that uses a combination of an electric motor and the same 1.6L petrol engine, but battery charging happens when the vehicle is decelerating, through energy regeneration via the electric motor. This is a similar drivetrain to those seen in Toyota Prius and Camry, with the exception of a six-speed DCT auto, where the Toyota models use a CVT auto. Combined fuel consumption for the Elite specification is 3.4L/100km riding on 15” wheels, while the Premium model riding on 17” returns 3.9L/100km. All models get a full suite of active safety features including forward alert, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring and active cruise control. The BEV gets an electric park brake, while the others get a footoperated mechanism. The BEV also adds a smart stop-and-go system to the active cruise control. All the usual connectivity options are available via the 8” multimedia touchscreen display with standard Sat Nav that can be used in a split-screen mode. There are a multitude of menus