- Download the EVGuide Report, 2022
- Hyundai hydrogen vehicles
- Hyundai electric vehicles available in Australia
- Kona Electric
- Ioniq Electric
- Ioniq Hybrid
- Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
- The future
A lot of news involving the automotive industry these days is largely focused on electric vehicles (EVs), which may seem like they’ve recently arrived on the scene with the goal of turning internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles into dinosaurs. Mind you, it seems to be a significantly slower process than a meteorite impact.
What many people aren’t aware of, however, is that most major car manufacturers have been developing EVs for decades, well before Tesla came along to dominate headlines with its battery-powered tech fantasies.
Hyundai began researching and developing alternatives to ICE vehicles as far back as the early 1990s, with its first EV, the Sonata Electric Vehicle, emerging in 1991, and its first hybrid, the FGV-1, unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show in 1995.
In 2008, Hyundai began mass-producing hybrids for the consumer market using what it calls “BlueDrive” technology, which includes using lithium-polymer batteries (the current industry norm are lithium-ion batteries, with both types coming with their own set of pros and cons).
Demonstrating how serious it is about developing cars using alternate power sources, Hyundai spent a whopping $45.6 billion developing the full electric Hyundai BlueOn in 2009, which came with a 16.4 kWh lithium polymer battery pack and the ability to charge to 80 per cent after just 25 minutes.
In 2016 Hyundai took on Toyota’s top-selling hybrid, the Prius, with its Ioniq – the first ever car to come in hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric variants, yet no ICE option whatsoever.
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Ioniq is now a standalone brand that will utilise the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), a dedicated EV platform consisting of a battery pack under the cabin and an all-in-one motor, transmission, and inverter that will be used on all Hyundai EV models moving forward.
Hyundai hydrogen vehicles
Hyundai has furthered its commitment to developing cars with a low environmental impact by developing certain models powered by hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe (filling stations, sadly, are significantly less abundant).
First came the Nexo crossover SUV in 2018, and then the Xcient Fuel Cell in 2020, the world’s first production hydrogen fuel cell truck, which is now on the road in Sweden, Germany and New Zealand. The same year it also launched the Elec City FCEV, a hydrogen-powered bus with a driving range of 434 kilometres.
The Nexo is available in Australia on special order for lease, despite a dearth of hydrogen fuelling stations.
Although the federal government has provided funding for the building of more hydrogen stations (the NSW and Victorian governments have also invested $20 million for hydrogen fuel stations to be built between Sydney and Melbourne), there are only three publicly available (one each in Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra, where a fleet of Nexos have been leased to the government for evaluation purposes) as well as a private filling station in Sydney at Hyundai HQ.
Hyundai has also talked about its hydrogen-powered Hyundai N Vision 74 sports coupe concept, which many or may not ever become a reality.
Hyundai electric vehicles available in Australia
Kona Electric
Prices from: $54,500 (Elite), $58,000 (Highlander), plus on-road costs
This Hyundai electric car is a compact SUV that’s small in size but big when it comes to driving range – 484km on a full charge, which is impressive given the car’s diminutive stature. For a few thousand bucks extra, the Highlander version throws in things like a head-up display, glass sunroof and heated seats.
Ioniq Electric
Prices from: $49,970 (Elite), $54,010 (Premium), plus on-road costs
This mid-size, five-seat, five-door hatch is a shade cheaper than its nearest rival, the Nissan Leaf ($49,990, plus on-road costs), anda touch above the MG ZS EV ($46,990, plus on-road costs) but it does offer comparatively better driving range (373km, compared to the base model Leaf’s 270km and the ZS EV’s 263km), and better energy consumption.
Ioniq Hybrid
Prices from: $41,390, plus on-road costs
Offering 3.9L of fuel consumption for every 100km, the Ioniq Hybrid features a self-charging battery that powers an electric motor with a total power output of 104kW. With the Premium trim level you get leather-appointed seats, heated front seats and steering wheel and a front park assist system.
Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
Prices from: $47,950, plus on-road costs
As opposed to the self-charging Ioniq Hybrid, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid must be connected to an external power source in order for it to be able to charge. The benefit? You’ll be able to drive in all-electric mode for further and longer, cutting down on environmentally harmful tailpipe emissions in the process. Combined fuel consumption is 1.1L/100km, and all-electric driving range is 63km.
Ioniq 5
Prices from: $71,900, plus on-road costs
The entry-level model for this all-electric, mid-size SUV is two-wheel-drive (2WD), but for an extra $4K, you can make that all-wheel drive (AWD). It looks high-tech both inside and out, coming with a large panoramic sunroof, an ‘eco-processed’ interior trim, dual 12.3-inch screens, electrically adjustable and heated seats, wireless phone charging and a whole lot more. Driving range is 451km.
The future
The Ioniq, which was first introduced in Australia in 2018, will be discontinued from sale this year (that’s all variants – electric, hybrid and PHEV) to make way for the new Ioniq range coming down the pipeline.
Those include the Ioniq 6 electric sedan (expected to cost between $70K-$80K) which is due in 2023, the Ioniq 7 large electric SUV (due 2024, expected to cost nearer to $90K) and the performance Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, due in 2023 (rumours persist we’ll also see smaller models like the Ioniq 3 and Ioniq 4, but nothing has been confirmed to date).
Hyundai will also launch its second-generation Kona Electric small SUV in 2023, and a “baby” compact electric car being developed for the European market may have a chance of making it Down Under, too.
Looking even further ahead, Hyundai aims to launch an additional 11 more all-electric vehicles in Europe by 2030, with plans for the brand to offer strictly all-electric models by 2040.
Keyword: Hyundai electric cars in Australia: Everything you need to know