50 T3 Tomorrow ’s Technology TodayAUGUST 2019 WWW.T 3 INDIA.COMHorizon
Autoadjustable. The rearbench, in comparison,isn’tas
supportive.Thisis becausethefloorboardis higher
thanusualduetothebatterypackunderneath. This
robstheseatsofthedesiredunder-thigh support.
Youmightnotevennoticeit onshortcitydrivesbut
it maybecomeobviousifyoutrytotestthebattery
range.
Asmentionedin ourpreviousdrivereportofthe
Kona,Indiagetsthesmaller39.2-kWhlithium-ion
batterywitha 100-kW(136-PS)motorthatpowers
thefrontwheels.Internationally, it is saidtohavea
range ofabout 289 kmbuthere,duetothedifferent
testingcycleoftheAutomotiveResearch
AssociationofIndia(ARAI),theelectricSUVclaims
torunfor 452 kilometresonafullcharge.In real
worldconditions,expecta range ofa reassuring 225
kmapproximately,whichtakescareoftheusual
rangeanxiety.
Forthe price,yougettwochargingkitswiththe
Kona.Abasic2.8-kWportable cable chargerwhich
canbepluggedintoa standardelectricsockettakes
about 19 hoursforafullcharge.Apartfromthis,you
alsogeta Rs70,000worth7.2-kWACboxcharger
thatcanbemountedonyourgaragewallandwhich
takesaboutsixhourstojuiceupthe Kona
completely.Thelattertakesjustanhourtoprovidea
charge tolastfor 50 kilometres.
Thankfully,theKonaI wastestinghadenough
chargeformetopitit againstIndia’spremium
racetrack: the BIC.Behindtheleather-wrapped
steeringwheel,I reachedoutforthegearstick...only
torealizethatit hasgivenwaytoa modernbutton
gearselector.Dampsquib. Ihadtodabonthe “D”
forthedrivemodetoengagethesingle-speed
reductiongearbox.Thebestthingaboutanelectric
carona racetrackis thatit deliversinstantsurge.The
entire 395 Nmof torque is at your servicefrom the
momentyou’veselectedthe Drivemode. Noturbo
lag,nogearshifts,justheap-fulloflinearpropulsion
anda whizzingelectricmotor,andfainttyrenoiseand
nothingelse.Thefeelingis surrealanda complete
contrast toICcars I’vedrivenat theBICearlier.
TheKonagetsfourdrivingmodes:Eco,EcoPlus,
Comfort,andSport.EcoPlusis byfarthemost
efficient.Foranelectriccar,thisonedrives
surprisinglywellandfeelspeppyenoughatcity
speeds.Hyundaiclaima 0-100km/h timeof9.7
seconds andwehopetotestit oncewegetsome
moretimewiththise-SUV.
Thehandlingis likeotherHyundaihatchbacks
availablein themarket.It’slightandeffortlesstouse
withdecentfeedback,thoughlackinga bitin terms
offeel.Thesuspensiononthesmoothtarmacofthe
racetrackdidn’tfeeltoosoft andhelpedrestrain
body-roll.Onpothole-riddledpublicroads,however,
thisset-upmightfeela bitfirmandtherecanbea
feelingofheavinessinfast-pacedchangeofdirection
owingtothebatterystacks.
OurshorttrackdriveexperienceoftheKonacame
toanendratherquickly.Rollingintothepit-laneI
anchoredtheKona,usingthesteering-mounted
paddle-shiftersthatmanagethebrakeenergyregen.
Tothin kofit, thiscanbea prettygoodeverydaycity
carwithzeroemissionandlowrunningcost.Hyundai
claimit’sone-fifthofa similar-sizedconventional
crossoverliketheCretapetrol’srunningcostper
kilometre.Thatwouldbelessthana rupee/kmfor
theKona!ThisEVwithfewermovingpartsshould
alsobecheapertomaintain.Thisshouldhelpjustify
thee-SUV’ssteepaskingpriceofRs25.30lakh
(ex-showroom).Withthewholeparadigmshift
towardselectricandthenewbenefits offeredby
thegovernment, the Kona does make good sense
after all.HYUNDAIKONAELECTRIC
Price:` 2 5 lakh (estimated)
ElectricMotor:PermanentMagnet
Synchronous
MaxPower: 100 kW/ 136PS
MaxTorque: 39 5 Nm
Transmission:Automatic,
front-wheel drive
Suspension:MacPhersonstrutfront,
multi-linkrear
Battery:39.2kWh, Lithium-ionPolymer
Range: 452 km(ARAIclaimed)
0 -100km/h:9.7seconds
Top Speed: 155 km/h