Energy saving driving as a challenge
Since
no other volume brand manufacturer has ever undertaken such a practical
test, the advance estimates were correspondingly cautious. The Hyundai
technicians working with Thilo Klemm, Head of Aftersales Training
Centre, had calculated a theoretical range of between 984 and 1,066
kilometres for a simulated drive at the average speed of inner-city
traffic. This was a challenge for the teams, because driving in an
energy-saving manner required concentration and patience in the summer
weather.
Three teams competed against each other at the Lausitzring: a team of test drivers from the renowned trade magazine Auto Bild,
one with technicians from Hyundai Motor Deutschland’s after-sales
department and another team consisting of members of the company’s press
office and product marketing department. Although the use of air
conditioning was not prohibited, none of the teams wanted to take the
risk that an air-conditioned drive with an outside temperature of up to
29 degrees Celsius might have melted away crucial kilometres of range.
For the same reason, the Kona Electric’s entertainment system remained
switched off throughout, with available power used solely for
propulsion. Only the daytime driving light remained switched on, in
order to comply with the legal requirements for road traffic. The
standard Nexen Nfera SU1 low rolling resistance tyres in the 215/55R17
size were used as tyres.
The average speed of the teams after the
over-1,000 kilometre distance was between 29 and 31 km/h. Although this
may sound slow at first glance, it had to be achieved in typical
inner-city traffic conditions, including rush hour and traffic light
changes, as well as in the 30 km/h zones of residential areas.
"With
this test, the Kona Electric demonstrated its potential as an efficient
and environmentally-friendly lifestyle SUV. This proves its suitability
for everyday use and shows that, when it comes to our electric
vehicles, range anxiety should be a thing of the past."
Jürgen Keller
Managing Director of Hyundai Motor Deutschland GmbH
An extremely reliable charge level indicator
On
the evening before the record rides, the conditions of all three Kona
Electric models were checked and weighed by Dekra engineers. In
addition, the experts compared the odometres and sealed the interface of
the onboard diagnostics, as well as the safety flap under the dashboard
and over the loading flap in the front bumper, to rule out any
manipulation of the result. Then the almost-35-hour journey began. The
Hyundai electric fleet then carefully drove along, whisper-quietly.
Things got lively during the driver changes, when topics such as the
cruise control settings, the current fuel consumption display of the
on-board computer and the best, i.e. most efficient way to approach the
banked curves of the 3.2-kilometer-long tri-oval, were discussed.
