Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) is officially the first company in the Philippines to launch an electric vehicle, officially beating Nissan Philippines with their Leaf which is slated for a 2020 release.
As mentioned, the Kona Electric is basically just that, an electric version of the Hyundai Kona. It still has the characteristic quirky design. In order to separate the Kona Electric from its petrol-powered sibling, the electric SUV has numerous styling differences, such as the grille, or lack thereof. Instead, the grille has a dotted pattern, which is flanked by LED headlights with separate LED daytime running lights. There are also aerodynamically-optimized alloy wheels, as well as numerous other aerodynamic upgrades to increase the electric powertrain’s efficiency. The charging port is integrated with the grille in order to let the car face the charging stations conveniently.
Inside, numerous changes have also been made to follow a more futuristic theme. These changes include replacing the analog gauges with a 7-inch fully-digital instrument cluster, and a push-button shifter. There’s also a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Numerous silver trim pieces have also been added in order to bring a more modern and futuristic vibe to the interior. Because the Kona has really been considered for electrification, interior space remains almost unchanged.
Under the hood is an electric motor that produces 201 hp and 395 Nm of torque. Given that electric cars have instant peak torque, the Kona Electric is also the fastest Kona yet, with a 0-100 kph acceleration time of 7.6 seconds. The Kona Electric on sale in the Philippines is the long-range version, which means it is fitted with the bigger 64 kWh battery, giving the Kona Electric a claimed 449 kilometers of range. A full charge on a standard 7.2 kW onboard charger takes 9 hours and 35 minutes, while a 50 kW quick charger is able to charge the Kona Electric from 0 to 80% in just 75 minutes. With a 100 kW rapid charger, the same feat can be achieved in just 54 minutes. Other mechanical changes include a multi-link rear suspension at the back for better ride comfort and handling.
Considering the country’s lack of infrastructure for electric vehicles, Hyundai has executed quite a bold move to aggressively put the Kona Electric on sale faster than most car manufacturers here in the Philippines. If you are interested to be in that early-adopter tech life, the entry price for owning a Hyundai Kona Electric is P2,388,000.
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