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Test Drive Hyundai Motor's Ioniq Electric offers efficiency and comfort

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Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq Electric. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Hyundai Motor’s newly-launched electric vehicle (EV), the Ioniq Electric sedan, was offered for a test drive during its auto event in Yeouido, western Seoul, Thursday. And the model tore down existing misgivings about EVs.

The nation’s largest automaker’s second eco-friendly model after the Ioniq Hybrid mounts an 88kW motor that can produce maximum 120 horsepower with a 30 kgf-m torque. With a 28kWh compact lithium-ion polymer battery, the Ioniq Electric has a 191-kilometer range, a Hyundai official said.

Pressing the EV button in the center fascia shows the car’s energy state on the screen. It said 191 kilometers when starting but went down to 170 kilometers after turning on the air conditioner and music.

There are a set of prejudices and concerns about electric cars -- a slow and boring machine whose battery may suddenly discharge while driving. The Ioniq Electric’s performance on the road, however, completely blew such concerns.

The model with a single-speed transmission showed a punchy instant torque from a standing start and lower speeds. Compared to the Ioniq Hybrid, the EV model was faster at low speeds.

It does 0-100kmph in 10.2 seconds in normal mode. Switchable drive modes give you a choice of eco, normal and sport modes, and the figure is expected to be shorter in the sport mode.

What makes the EV model unfamiliar was its tranquility. It was hard to tell when the vehicle started. And it sounded rather like a vacuum cleaner when driving faster.

As a safety measure, the model is applied with a virtual engine sound system that simulates a combustion engine to warn pedestrians.

The navigation system also suggests the nearest charging stations on a map. Those stations the EV model can reach with remaining energy popped up in green while those it couldn’t reach were gray.

It takes 20 to 30 minutes to charge a completely discharged vehicle from a high-speed battery charger while taking four hours and 30 minutes on a slow-speed one.

The Ioniq Electric may be a bit expensive at 40 million won ($35,242) for the N model and 43 million won for the Q model. With a 14 million won central and up to 8 million won local government subsidy, however, the actual prices go down to 18 million and 25 million won.