Face of Nation : Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) on Tuesday launched the country’s first fully electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) – Kona Electric – priced at Rs 25.30 lakh (ex-showroom across India).
The Kona Electric would appeal to consumers with an active, eco-focused lifestyle, with its youthful design, sporty driving and advanced technology offering.
It is a long-range green SUV that can run 452 km per charge (under tear conditions by ARAI), the company said. It is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery with 39.2kWh and goes 0-100 kmph in 9.7 seconds, the company said.
So far, India has had a limited range of EVs such as the Mahindra & Mahindra e2O Plus, the eVerito, and Tata eTigor, which give only 110-140 km/charge. And, models like the Tata eTigor are available only for fleet usage.
“We are committed to the government’s vision of ‘shared’, ‘connected’, and ‘clean’ mobility. Hyundai leads in future mobility solutions globally and will bring in the most relevant technology in the clean mobility space in the Indian market. As we embark on the journey of India’s future mobility, the launch of electric SUV Kona in India will be a revolutionary and a definitive forward move that will change the perspective towards electric cars altogether,” S.S. Kim, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, HMIL, said here at the launch.
Kona Electric is named after the idyllic west-coast region of Hawaii island. The region, famous for tri-atheletes and thrill-seeking travellers, has been the inspiration for styling features, complemented by its wide stance for great looks, HMIL said.
Kona Electric has received worldwide recognition and will be the most conducive e-vehicle for the Indian market, he said.
“The electric SUV showcases the strengths of an SUV combined with the advanced innovative technology of an electric powertrain,” he added.
According to the company, 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 57 minutes with a DC quick charger (0 to 80 per cent charge @50kW) using the CCS Type-II charging port, while a 7.2kW Level-II charger would take six hours and 10 minutes. It added that the charging port was located in the front grille, for head-in parking ease whenever charging is needed.
