Price competitive Ioniq EV will bust buyer anxiety

EV buyer anxiety will fall by the wayside once the range- and price-competitive Ioniq Electric is launched , Hyundai Motors New Zealand says.

It is introducing the Elantra-sized electric hatch at a market-competitive price of $59,990, tens of thousands less than current EV offerings from BMW and Renault.

There is also a luxury version, the Ioniq Elite, priced from $65,990.

The company is also offering a 10-year unlimited kilometre warranty on the Ioniq battery, which it says “removes all excuses”.
More than three-quarters of its 23-strong New Zealand dealer network will retail the new Ioniq Electric.

Even though it’s remaining tight-lipped about future sales volume, Hyundai says it’s new 88kW/295Nm Ioniq Electric hatch with a 28kWh battery capacity is not just an urban vehicle, thanks to its usable range of 200km.

A 7.4kW wall charger will replenish the Ioniq Electric’s battery from near-empty in four to five hours, or it can be fast-charged to 80% in 30 minutes by a 50kW DC rapid charger.

“It’s not just a city-based electric vehicle, it’s an example of one that can go beyond the urban jungle,” Hyundai national sales and marketing manager Scott Billman says.

At the same time, Hyundai is also launching a price-competitive petrol-electric Ioniq Hybrid at $46,990 and a luxury specification Ioniq Elite Hybrid at $52,990.

The Ioniq Hybrid uses a 77kW 1.6-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine and six-speed dual-clutch transmission allied to a 32kW electric motor for its power delivery and fuel savings.

Hyundai is quoting a combined fuel consumption for that model of 3.7L/100km.

A plug-in Ioniq Hybrid model will follow in the third quarter.

The Ioniq Electric hatch wears a fully enclosed front nose cone which gives it a different face to the more conventional-looking Ioniq Hybrid which has a slatted radiator grille.
Inside the cabin, the EV has copper-coloured trim accents, while the Hybrid has blue accents.

To make the point about dispelling range anxiety for the Ioniq Electric, the New Zealand distributor took motoring media on a 160km return drive around Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Kinloch.

All four of the Ioniq Electrics made the return journey from Kinloch to Frankton without running out of power, albeit one had less than 8km of range remaining.
Billman says the Ioniq Electric and Hybrid hatches represent a new era for the distributor but he can’t ct confirm how many the company will sell.

“It’s such a new product for us, we just simply don’t know yet what the numbers will be.”

However, Billman says there has been an unprecedented response to the Ioniq, with customers believing it’s a conventional-looking car, mainly fit for purpose.

“I think we will predominately sell the EV to fleets, while private buyers will prefer the Hybrid. I believe that we will see an even split of sales being 50% EV and Hybrid,” he says.

“I think 70% of those sales will be to fleet purchasers, with private buyers making up the remaining 30%.”

And Billman confirmed that Hyundai Motors New Zealand has received orders from the All of Government (AOG) contract through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the Ioniq Electric ahead of its official launch.

“One of our first orders came from a local council for one vehicle which we are delivering in mid-March,” he says.

“We have seen an appetite from the corporate sector to trial EVs in the fleet and New Zealand’s renewable energy is helping the cause too.

“We now have the rubber on the road to show that EV is a viable alternative and we are taking orders.

“The AOG contract is reviewed each quarter and we are confident that Ioniq will pick up more business.”

Billman says a financial incentive for electric vehicles from the Government would certainly help future sales too but a price point under $60,000 will gain people’s attention.

First drive impressions

Auto Media Group briefly drove both the Ioniq Electric and Ioniq Hybrid in Queenstown and came away impressed with both the quality of the vehicles and their driving characteristics.

Both are quiet and comfortable open-road cruisers, with taut but occupant-friendly suspension systems, which provide excellent handling as well as a comfortable ride.

Even in the entry-level cars, the specification is generous and the seats are comfortable. Travelling four-up will not be an issue as the cabin offers excellent headroom and legroom for all occupants, as well as a decent-sized boot.

The Ioniq Electric is naturally the more silent running of the two vehicles due to its powertrain, but both had more than enough power to climb the steep inclines in and out of the Queenstown Lakes district and to overtake slower cars on passing lanes.

A full test drive report of the Ioniq range will follow shortly.