New Kona Electric Car, Smarter Than Ever

Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the new model of the Kona electric vehicle, a compact sports utility vehicle (SUV), for the first time on the 7th. This is a completely redesigned new car released five years after the initial launch in 2018, with the internal combustion engine and hybrid models having been released earlier this January.

The new car is equipped with a 64.8 kWh battery and a 150 kW motor, and the company expects it to achieve a driving range of over 410 km (based on the 17-inch endurance type) on a single charge. The Kia Niro, which shares the same platform, has an endurance range of about 401 km. The Kona’s drag coefficient is 0.27 Cd, slightly lower than that of the Niro. It is said that the electric vehicle model was designed first when developing the new Kona.

New Kona Electric

Attention was paid to safety by reinforcing the door-side rigidity and using high-strength materials in key areas. Various features specialized for electric vehicles were also included. The air conditioning system is equipped with a high-efficiency heat pump that uses waste heat from the powertrain for heating and a high-voltage PTC heater that actively adjusts power consumption, making it suitable for electric vehicles.

For charging convenience during winter, a heating system for the charging door was applied. Wireless (OTA) software updates are also the first among vehicles in the same class. The next-generation infotainment system applied to the new car features a newly implemented EV-exclusive mode. Users can easily use functions such as minimizing interior lighting to reduce glare during car camping, battery conditioning useful for fast charging, and driving range-centered climate control that adjusts air conditioning based on remaining charge. The actual vehicle will be publicly unveiled for the first time at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show held this month.

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