Hyundai launches India’s first all-electric SUV

PUNE: Despite continuous falling car sales, Hyundai, the South Korean automaker on Tuesday introduced its first all-electric model the Kona Electric SUV priced at Rs 25.30 lakh at pan India showroom. The price includes the 12 per cent goods and services tax (GST).

It is the first car brand to be the first mover to gain foothold in the new emerging electric car market in Asia's third biggest economy.

The Kona Electric has been bought to India as a CKD (completely-knocked-down) unit, but with a small level of localisation to keep the price in check.

The Kona is powered by a 136hp electric motor and gets a 39.2kWh lithium-ion battery with a claimed 452 km range per full charge.

Although, at present, the Hyundai Kona faces no immediate rival, and sets a benchmark for the upcoming electric vehicles in India, it will face competition from the British brand MG eZS all-electric SUV scheduled for launch in India in December 2019.

Officials said powering the Kona Electric is a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces the equivalent of 136hp and 395Nm of torque, helping it to do a claimed sprint of 0-100 kmph within 9.7 seconds.

The SUV is equipped with a 39.2kWh lithium-ion battery to provide an ARAI-rated laboratory range of 452 km per charge.

But when asked the mileage it gives on real road conditions, Hyundai officials said it was above 300 km per single charge.  

The lithium-ion battery pack can be charged to 100 per cent capacity in as little as 57 minutes using a 50kW DC fast charger, or 6-hour and 10-minutes from a standard AC source. The model also comes with adjustable regenerative braking via the paddle shifters and four drive modes - Eco, Eco Plus, Comfort and Sport.