Hyundai India recently launched the first all-electric SUV to be launched in the country. Called the Kona Electric, this new model is priced at Rs. 25.3 lakh (ex-showroom, pan India). The Korean carmaker has now claimed to have received 120 confirmed customer bookings for the Kona Electric in just 10 days since its official launch in the country.
This is a commendable figure as the Kona is India’s first exposure to a long-range electric vehicle. Hyundai claims that its electric SUV can cover a range of 452 km on a single charge. It is also the first EV to come from the country’s second largest car manufacturer – Hyundai Motor India. Despite being sold at a premium price, the Kona appears to be appealing to buyers thanks to its longer drive range as well as Hyundai’s popular brand name.
In addition to the 120 bookings, Hyundai has also received over 10,000 requests for test drives of the Kona Electric across its dealerships in the country during the same 10-day period. The company claims to have noticed an increase in digital enquiries as well as showroom footfalls after the launch of the Kona Electric. The company thus appears to have successfully place the Kona Electric as a halo product for the brand in India.
The Hyundai Kona Electric draws power from a 39.2 kWh battery pack that is mated to a synchronous motor. This powertrain is capable of developing 136 hp and 395 Nm of peak torque. The company claims that the Kona Electric can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 9.7 sec. Additionally, the SUV’s comes with fast charging capabilities that can charge the electric battery from 0 to 80 percent in just 57 mins, using a 50 kW DC charger. However, charging the car with a regular 3-pin 16A regular home supply will take close to 19 hours.
Looking at the overwhelming response that it has received for the Kona Electric, Hyundai India is reportedly planning to introduce a relatively more affordable EV in the country by the end of next year. This will help the manufacturer to not just make its electric car portfolio to a wider audience, but also compete with Maruti Suzuki, which is planning to launch the Wagon R electric soon.
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