Zero emissions. Zero gas bills!
I have driven perhaps a dozen or so pure electric vehicles in the last few years as they have been brought to market. Until now, all of that experience has been for a few hours with each vehicle.
I’ve now spent an entire week with the 2021 Hyundai Kona electric, at home. After testing thousands of cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs over the four decades, this was one of the most memorable experiences with a new vehicle.
2021 Hyundai Kona electric (Photo: Lisa Calvi)
I’ve been reviewing vehicles since there were carburetors, four-speed manual transmissions and windup windows. I’ve seen the elimination of leaded gasoline, the introduction of increasingly sophisticated fuel injection systems, catalytic converters, electronic engine management systems and other technologies aimed at cutting exhaust emissions and increasing fuel efficiency.
But we are still burning fossil fuel, creating harmful emissions and contributing to global warming.
Oil refineries like this one may be a thing of the past in a future without the internal combustion engine.
Let me make something perfectly clear. I love internal combustion engines! Nothing gives me more pleasure behind the wheel, than winding an IC engine through the gears, transforming all that combination of fuel and air into power that I can feel and hear.
But, I do not have my head buried in the lovely white sand of a south shore beach. The age of internal combustion engines as the sole source of automotive power is drawing to a close.
IC engines will be around for a couple of decades more. Engineers and scientists will find ways to squeeze even more power from them while using less fuel. But the writing is on the wall.
The transformation to alternative power sources began with hybrids, followed by plug-in hybrids and most recently – battery electric vehicles.
Electric motors as a replacement for gasoline engines are becoming increasingly available as manufacturers improve on range and the charging infrastructure expands.
A typical charging station, popping up in more and more locations
The chief drawback from the outset continues to be the need to plug them in.
For an entire society accustomed to a gas station on every block or within a 20- or 30-minute drive, the need to know where charging facilities are and to plan ahead is a new, and not necessarily pleasant, experience.
But, burning fossil fuels is harmful for the environment and those who live within it. This will surely result in change going forward and the need to adapt. Whether it be battery electric, hydrogen or other alternatives, change is inevitable.
The first lesson, as I learned with my week with the Kona electric, is the need for a refuelling/filling /charging system at home.
I had driven a pre-production Kona electric two years ago, and said at the time it was a very acceptable little crossover. It had style, content, performance and all of the attributes that make small crossovers so popular. I spent two or three hours at the wheel and came away impressed.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona electric looks much like its internal combustion counterpart, but with no open grille
After driving a 2021 Hyundai Kona electric, for a week, those impressions remain intact. It looks like a stylish, yet conventional sub-compact crossover. The first hint it is different, is that is has no grille – or need for one.
2021 Hyundai Kona electric (Photo: Garry Sowerby)
Instead of an engine that burns fuel, creating heat and requiring an extensive cooling system, beneath this hood rests a permanent-magnet synchronous 150 kW AC electric motor paired with a 64 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery located beneath the floor.
Power, a full 201 horsepower and, more important, 294 lb. ft. of torque, is sent to the front wheels through a single speed direct drive system. No transmission is necessary to multiply torque through a series of gears.
Electric motors produce maximum power from rest. Among the first things you will learn when driving a battery electric vehicle is that they are extremely powerful when starting off.
The first couple of times I stepped into the throttle (no gas pedal here) the front tires scrabbled for grip, activating the traction control system, and squealed like mad.
OK, the Kona EV has lots of power – at all speeds.
It is also extremely quiet. The lack of engine or powertrain noise makes road and wind noise more noticeable. But even that has been well quelled.
There are paddles on either side of the steering wheel to control the amount of regenerative braking available. Regen braking captures the energy/heat created by the brakes, converts that into energy and sends it to the big main battery.
It’s fun utilizing the system to slow the vehicle while charging the battery. Drive smoothly, plan ahead and you almost never have to actually touch the brake pedal.
The instrumentation is similar to a conventional one – except for the lack of coolant temperature and engine speeds gauges. Instead, there are numerous readouts for battery strength, distance remaining and charging information.
Therein lies the big lesson. I have tested and reported on numerous hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The latter simply required plugging in overnight. Granted, they didn’t travel very far on battery power alone – 20 – 50 km. And when the battery became depleted the gasoline engine took over. Total range 500-1,000 km.
With no secondary source of motivation, when the available range depletes, you have plug it in. But where?
The Kona electric, like every other pure electric vehicle, has no gasoline engine as a primary or secondary source of motivation.
When the available range starts to dwindle, you have to think about plugging it in – and where to do so.
I saw the low battery warning as I pulled into my driveway late in the afternoon of the first day. No problem, I plugged it into the 120-volt outlet in the garage and called it a day. That evening I learned that I needed to go to the city the following afternoon, a 125-km drive.
When I checked the state of charge around noon the following day, I discovered it had barely reached a charge of 20% after all that time plugged into a 120-volt outlet, not sufficient range for the drive to the city!
Thankfully, in the nearby town there were two public charging stations.
I chose one supported by the Nova Scotia Power Corporation with Level 2 and Level 3 outlets. I signed up for the Flo app, deposited $25 on the account through my credit card, and plugged in the Level 3 charger.
Thirty-nine minutes and $9.35 later the little Kona was 80% charged and had plenty of range for the trip – at least one way.
To make sure there was plenty of juice left to return home, I sought out a related charging station in the city and, after waiting for a fellow electric vehicle user to complete his charge, was able to plug in, make use of my Kindle reader while waiting, and ‘filled it up’.
A fully charged Hyundai Kona electric will go up to 375 km before needing a charge.
Lesson #1 – Electric vehicles require electricity and a change in habits. Have a Level 2 station installed at home and/or know where one is near home or place of work.
Charging Primer
- Level 1 – 120-volt household with conventional three prong plug. Up to 59 hours for a full change from ’empty’
- Level 2 – 240-volts using same wiring as a stove or clothes dryer. Can be installed by an electrician at home. Also becoming quite common around the province. Cuts charge time by at least half to less than 10 hours. Obviously, an overnight plug-in ensures a full battery the next day.
- Level 3 – DC fast charger. Direct (DC) rather than alternating (AC) current. Very high power. Found at public sites, several in Nova Scotia supported by Nova Scotia Power Corporation. Cuts charging time by half again. I spent 39 min at a charger and watched it climb from 20% to 80%. Cropping up all across the country, several in Nova Scotia.
Things to consider
- In addition to Hyundai’s legendary 5 yr./100,000 warranty, the Kona EV’s entire electric powertrain is covered for eight years or 160,000 km!
- Nova Scotia now offers a rebate of up to $5,000 for the purchase of an electric vehicle.
- No more oil changes, or tuneups!
In addition to an eery silence, and an abundance of smooth, consistent power, the Kona EV is a practical and well thought-out little ute. Fun to drive, it boasts excellent handling, a full slate of safety and technical features.
If your daily commute is less than a 200-300 kilometres and you have access to a Level 2 charger, you could throw away that company gas card.
Check out a video review of the 2021 Hyundai Kona electric from fellow East Coast Tester, Matthew Guy.
FACTS & FIGURES – 2021 Hyundai Kona Ultimate EV
PRICE
Base: $53,349
As tested: $55,174, including freight
INFOTAINMENT
26-cm infotainment screen, Bluelink telematics, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functions,
SAFETY
Forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, active-cornering LED headlights, rear park distance warning, rear cross traffic alert,
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
17-in alloy wheels, proximity key, adaptive cruise control with stop-n-go, power sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, eight-way power driver’s seat, heated power mirrors, automatic climate control, tilt/telescope steering wheel, leather seats, navigation, eight-speaker Infinity Premium audio system, wireless charging,
OPTIONS
None
MECHANICAL
permanent-magnet synchronous 150 kW AC electric motor, 201-horsepower, 290 lb.ft. of torque, 64 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, single-speed direct drive, front-wheel drive NRCan ratings city/highway kWh/100 km: 16.2/19.3
17.4 kWh /100 km
DIMENSIONS
Length, 4,180-mm; wheelbase, 2,600-mm; weight, 1,712-kg
COMPETITION
Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model Y
