Kona Electric Car Achieves Over 1000km Driving Range on a Single Charge

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Hyundai Motor Company's compact electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Kona Electric, has succeeded in driving over 1000 km on a single charge.

Hyundai announced on the 14th that three Kona Electric vehicles achieved driving distances of 1026 km, 1024.1 km, and 1018.7 km respectively during test drives conducted in Germany from the 22nd to 24th of last month (local time). The fuel efficiency during the test was around 16 km per 1 kWh, far exceeding the official domestic electric vehicle efficiency standard of 5.6 km/kWh.

The test drive lasted about 35 hours at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (Lausitzring), a racing circuit in Germany, with multiple drivers taking turns. Production vehicles were used for the test, and no arbitrary manipulation of the vehicle systems was made for the test. The test was conducted in collaboration with Germany's leading automotive magazine Auto Bild, and the entire test process was monitored by DEKRA, the operator of Lausitzring.

The test team employed all possible methods to reduce power consumption and extend the driving range of the Kona Electric. Despite the outside temperature rising to 29°C on a hot day, the drivers did not use the air conditioning and turned off the infotainment system. However, to comply with road traffic laws, the daytime running lights (DRL) were kept on while driving.

After completing the drive, the average speed of the three test vehicles was about 30 km/h. This is similar to the average speed during typical urban driving, considering traffic congestion, traffic signals, and residential area speed limits.

Hyundai emphasized that all three Kona Electric vehicles recorded driving distances exceeding 1000 km, showing extremely minimal manufacturing variance. They also added that the accuracy of the power charge amount display was confirmed.

The Kona Electric is Hyundai's best-selling electric vehicle in Europe. From January to July this year, Hyundai sold a total of 204,737 vehicles in Europe, of which 8.1%, or 16,511 units, were Kona Electric sales.

To meet the demand for eco-friendly vehicles in the European market, Hyundai has been producing the Kona Electric at its European base in the Czech Republic since March. This has significantly reduced the waiting period for European customers to receive the Kona Electric.

J?rgen Keller, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor Germany, responsible for sales and marketing in Germany, said, "Through this test drive, the Kona Electric demonstrated its potential as an efficient eco-friendly SUV," adding, "The Kona Electric will alleviate concerns about electric vehicle driving range in everyday life."