Hyundai Kona Electric to be launched on 9 July

30/05/2019 - 09:30 Hyundai Kona, Hyundai, Electric vehicles Prashant Singh

Hyundai has confirmed that it will launch its first all-electric SUV, the Kona Electric, in India on 9 July this year. The company has already displayed it in India on multiple occasions. Local testing is underway.

Hyundai Kona Electric Bims 2019 Images Front 1 — The Hyundai Kona Electric will be sold in only 15 cities in India initially.

Hyundai is considering offering the Kona Electric in only the entry-level or a mid-tier trim. If it goes ahead with that plan, the Indian-spec EV may miss out on features like satellite navigation, advanced driver assistance systems and a head-up display among others. The entry-level trim gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the top-end trim features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav.

Internationally, the Hyundai Kona Electric in a Basic version and a Long-range version. Below are their main specifications:

Basic version - 39.2 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery, 136 PS/395 Nm electric motor, 254 km range (South Korean test cycle)
Long-range version - 64 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery, 204 PS/395 Nm electric motor, 406 km range (South Korean test cycle)

Using a standard (AC) charger, the 39.2 kWh and the 64 kWh battery packs take ~6 hours 10 minutes and ~9 hours and 35 minutes for a full charging. Using a quick charger (DC, 100 kW), 80% charging can be achieved in ~54 minutes (39.2 kWh and 64 kWh both).

To keep the Kona Electric as affordable as possible in India, Hyundai will sell it in the Basic version with the smaller battery pack and the low-output electric motor. The company manufactures the SUV at its Ulsan plant in South Korea. In China, this model is known as the Encino EV, and it will be manufactured by the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture company at its Chongqing factory. India will get the BEV from the Ulsan facility in CKD kits, with the assembly taking place at the Sriperumbudur plant.

The Hyundai Kona Electric will be quite a costly affair in India. It will likely retail at around INR 25 lakh (ex-showroom). Around 50 units a month are expected to be sold in the first year.

Hyundai Kona Electric Bims 2019 Images Front Three — The Hyundai Kona Electric's lithium-ion battery pack can be charged to 80% capacity in just 54 mins using a 100 kW DC fast charger.

Also Read: Top 10 Electric Cars with the highest driving range (360+ km)

The Hyundai Kona Electric is not the only battery-powered EV arriving in India this year. In Q4 2019 (October-December 2019), the MG eZS will go on sale in the country. It will be a CBU import, though.