Following the government’s announcement to waive taxes for electric vehicles during the tabling of Budget 2022, it appears that more carmakers are bringing their EV models to our local market. Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has confirmed that it is introducing the Hyundai Kona electric and this could be Malaysia’s most affordable EV.
According to a report by Paul Tan, HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung said they envisage greater interest in EVs following the announcement of import and excise duty exemptions. He added that the arrival of the Kona Electric is timely as it will provide more choice for consumers who want a more sustainable and greener ride option to help reduce carbon footprint.
Hyundai Kona electric now available for booking
The Kona Electric is expected to be priced from under RM150,000 in Malaysia. As a comparison, the petrol-powered Kona 2.0 standard is priced from RM119,888 and the range-topping Kona 1.6 N Line is priced at RM156,888. At the moment, the most affordable EV is the Nissan Leaf which is currently priced from RM181,263 before tax exemptions.
The electric-powered Kona comes in 3 colours – Chalk White, Misty Jungle Two-Tone and Dive in Jeju Two-Tone, and you have a choice of Black or Grey interior colours.
The Hyundai Kona electric is offered in 3 variants – e-lite 39.2kWh, e-plus 39.2kWh and e-max 64kWh.
If you’re interested, you can book online from HSDM by placing a RM1,000 booking fee.
Hyundai Kona key features
The lower-spec Kona electric models with a 39.2kWh Lithium-Ion battery gets an electric motor that pushes 136 PS (134 bhp) while the top-end 64kWh battery variant gets a more powerful motor pushing 204 PS (201 bhp). The 39.2kWh model has a rated range of 305 km and a top speed of 155km/h. Meanwhile, the 65kWh model can go further up to 484 km and has a top speed of 167km/h.
With a 50kW DC charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in 48 minutes for the 39.2kWh model or 64 minutes for the 64 kWh model. Using a higher 100kW DC charger, both models take just 47 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.
If you charge the vehicle with a regular 240V AC power outlet, a charge from 10% to 100% will take 17 hours for the 39.2kWh model or 28 hours for the 64 kWh version.
HSDM has not revealed the full equipment list for the Hyundai Kona electric in Malaysia. In the UK, the Kona electric is offered with a 10.25″ touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 10.25″ fully digital cluster display accompanied by a heads-up display unit.
To maximize the driving range, drivers can set their preferred regenerative braking. There’s a one-paddle mode where you can brake to a complete stop by pulling and holding the left paddle shifter instead of stepping on your brake pedal. The regenerative braking is assisted with onboard radar sensors to control the level of braking according to the distance of the vehicle in front of you.
The Kona is also available with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which include Lane Following Assist (LFA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC w/ S&G), and Blind Spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA).
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