Hyundai Kona, Electric Vehicle That Reached the Highest Place in the World, Registered in Guinness World Records

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hyundai Motor's compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) electric car 'Kona Electric (EV)' has been listed in the Guinness World Records for the 'highest altitude reached by an electric vehicle.'

On the 17th, Hyundai Motor India announced that the Kona Electric, manufactured in India, reached the summit of the Tibetan 'Saula Pass' at an altitude of 5,731 meters above sea level, setting a new Guinness World Record.

The previous highest record was set by the Chinese automaker NIO's mid-size SUV ES8, which reached an altitude of 5,715 meters in September 2018.

The Kona Electric started from Mukhiya Pati Musharniya in southeastern Nepal and drove 1,519 km along mountain roads covered with snow and ice, reaching the summit of Tibet’s 'Saula Pass' eight days after departure.

Kim Sun-seop, Head of Hyundai Motor India Regional Headquarters (left), is receiving a certificate from a Guinness World Records official confirming that the Hyundai Kona Electric has been registered in the Guinness World Records for the 'Electric Vehicle to Reach the Highest Altitude.' Photo by Hyundai Motor

The driving environment for the Kona Electric was an extreme low-temperature zone with average temperatures ranging from minus 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. A Hyundai Motor official explained that considering the fact that a vehicle's fuel efficiency and performance generally decline in low-temperature environments, this was an impressive achievement for an electric vehicle.

To supplement the driving performance of up to 452 km on a single charge, the Kona Electric utilized portable chargers over the course of eight days. Additionally, during descent, functions such as the smart regenerative braking system were used to safely control the descending speed.

A Hyundai Motor India official said, "Through this global Guinness World Record registration, the driving performance and safety of the Kona Electric have been proven," adding, "We hope this becomes an opportunity for the vehicle to be recognized as a tech icon not only in India but also among customers worldwide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.