PRESSTOG
Prominent Member
Well the end of August marks 2 years since we purchased our Hyundai Kona Electric 64Kwh Premium SE at the beginning of September 2018
(And due to some issues later on in the report I am able to do its end of School report a little early)
It was our 4th EV and we were planning on keeping it for 12 months then selling on, as we usually do with cars due to putting about 40/45k miles a year on them.
The Car Cost £32300 on the road after the Govt EV Grant
We were given 60k miles free servicing with the car due to an error in the pre launch specification, (Was listed as having a 298 Mile WLTP Range, Which was dropped to 279 Miles due to a testing error)
From Sept 2018 to Sept 2019 was a normal year for us, 45k miles and the car behaved perfectly.
Apart from the stupidly short service intervals (10k miles) it didnt need to go into the dealership at all.
We debated what to change the car for, having arguments with SWMBO over a Tesla M3, as the Kona has features the Tesla does not have which she loved (Head Up Display and Air Cooled Seats). And the Car in our price bracket the Standard Range Plus would have a 40 mile lower range than the Kona.
We got to the point of ordering a Tesla M3, but walked away on the Pickup day due to issues with it. And decided to spend another year in the Kona, A First for us.
This was only really possible due to the 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty on the Kona, as I dont want to be driving a computer on wheels that is going to cost a fortune to fix when it brakes down.
First set of tyres lasted just over a year and were changed at 47k miles. Nexen SU1
I was given a free brand new set by someone who bought a Kona but straight away put on different tyres, so it didnt cost me anything to replace them
Its still on these tyres,
At its 60k Service in Dec 2019 Brake Pads were reported as Less than 10% Worn, and there were no other issues,
We were away from Late Dec 2019 to Feb 2020 working overseas, so the car was left at home parked up with 60% charge, On return 8 weeks later it was at 59% and all good but the 12v Battery was flat, this was charged and all ok.
Then Lockdown Hit, The car was almost 100% off the Road March April and Early may.
Mid May The Car Was called into the Dealership for a Compulsory Software update, Straight away after this we noticed issues with the way the car was charging on Rapid and Ultra Rapid Chargers. (On Ionity Ultra Rapids the Car was charging at a Max of 31Kw rather than the 77Kw it did before, and on 50Kw Rapids the car would charge at 45Kw then drop down to 20Kw Rather than rising to 49Kw like it did before).
Took some time time to get. Hyundai to believe there was a problem, I even had to arrange a meeting with 2 other Kona owners on the Old Software and video the charging showing the slow charging on our car.
Car went back to the Dealership who advised they found one of the 4 Software updates had not been done correctly, so they re did it.
Checked car on Chargers again, Now its Charging at full speed on Ultra Rapids at 77Kw but the battery is getting hot and the Battery Cooling system is Not Cooling the Battery
More and More Test by Us with Results sent to Hyundai, So now Hyundai decide they want our car back at the Tilbury Import Centre to have it checked by a Senior Tech. Car it taken to Dealers and Transported to Tilbury.
---- THE TILBURY SAGA -----
Here we get major issues with Hyundai and the Transport Company. (We have a Live 360degree Dash cam in car which recorded the whole weeks saga).
Car was picked up on Sat am from Dealer, (Not the Friday am as agreed), as such the Transport Co could not get into Tilbury Docks, so rather than take car to a secure compound, they dumped the car in a Motorway Services from 5pm Sat to 11am Mon.
Car Finally Made it To Tilbury, Tech on phone to his boss says they have updated another software package and will blame the dealer for the issues saving them face, then goes on to describe all EV owners as Sad Anal ****ers (His boss on the phone agrees with him), He makes it clear he is not going to look for overheating.
Car is returned back to Dealer from Tilbury, and on the way back one of the Recovery Truck drivers decides (Again live on video), to search the car and steal from it, items including the 4G modem the car was using for comms, and other stuff of ours.
Theft is reported and Hyundai replace the items stolen
-----------------------------------
Now in July 2020
Car is returned to us, charging checked again, works fine on Ultra Rapid and Rapids now, but till battery getting too hot and not cooling,
After some rumblings on Social Media Hyundai agrees to send its technical director a top techs to meet up with us at the ionity chargers in Milton Keynes to test car alongside on of theirs.
We meet up, and within 5mins they confirm the car is not cooling, and needs repair.
They order parts while we stand at the charger, and take our car back to Hyundai head office, saying it will be ready in a week, and leave us with the Press Fleet car they brought with them to test.
A week later they call to say the parts have been replaced and they have checked it on an ultra rapid charger and the battery is still not cooling correctly.
------------------------------------
So going into August 2020 we will not be going back into our car as it ends its 2nd year of service.
Apart from the faff at the end its been a great car and would highly recommend the Kona to anyone wanting a bullet proof EV.
AND REGARDS BATTERY LIFE. Hyudais Own top Techs tested the battery and were surprised to report that even at 67k miles and an unkown amount of time spent with no cooling while rapid charging the battery health was 100% with a 0.0v Cell deviance. Says a lot for EV Batteries.
We are using their press car for now and will start our New EV Journey on the 1st Sept 2020 which I am sure I will document on here.
So I cant really do my final cost of ownership as I normally would as its not possible to break down, but as stated over the 2 years we ran it, 1 set of tyres and servicing so you really cant say more than that..
SO FINAL SCORES
23 Months of Ownership. (18 Months of Use due to overseas work and Covid lockdown)
67k miles covered
Costs to keep on road £0 (Excluding Insurance etc)
CAR SCORES AN "A+" Outstanding
HYUNDAI SCORES A "D+" Could Do Much Better.
Will be back in Sept All being well with the World.
(And due to some issues later on in the report I am able to do its end of School report a little early)
It was our 4th EV and we were planning on keeping it for 12 months then selling on, as we usually do with cars due to putting about 40/45k miles a year on them.
The Car Cost £32300 on the road after the Govt EV Grant
We were given 60k miles free servicing with the car due to an error in the pre launch specification, (Was listed as having a 298 Mile WLTP Range, Which was dropped to 279 Miles due to a testing error)
From Sept 2018 to Sept 2019 was a normal year for us, 45k miles and the car behaved perfectly.
Apart from the stupidly short service intervals (10k miles) it didnt need to go into the dealership at all.
We debated what to change the car for, having arguments with SWMBO over a Tesla M3, as the Kona has features the Tesla does not have which she loved (Head Up Display and Air Cooled Seats). And the Car in our price bracket the Standard Range Plus would have a 40 mile lower range than the Kona.
We got to the point of ordering a Tesla M3, but walked away on the Pickup day due to issues with it. And decided to spend another year in the Kona, A First for us.
This was only really possible due to the 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty on the Kona, as I dont want to be driving a computer on wheels that is going to cost a fortune to fix when it brakes down.
First set of tyres lasted just over a year and were changed at 47k miles. Nexen SU1
I was given a free brand new set by someone who bought a Kona but straight away put on different tyres, so it didnt cost me anything to replace them
Its still on these tyres,
At its 60k Service in Dec 2019 Brake Pads were reported as Less than 10% Worn, and there were no other issues,
We were away from Late Dec 2019 to Feb 2020 working overseas, so the car was left at home parked up with 60% charge, On return 8 weeks later it was at 59% and all good but the 12v Battery was flat, this was charged and all ok.
Then Lockdown Hit, The car was almost 100% off the Road March April and Early may.
Mid May The Car Was called into the Dealership for a Compulsory Software update, Straight away after this we noticed issues with the way the car was charging on Rapid and Ultra Rapid Chargers. (On Ionity Ultra Rapids the Car was charging at a Max of 31Kw rather than the 77Kw it did before, and on 50Kw Rapids the car would charge at 45Kw then drop down to 20Kw Rather than rising to 49Kw like it did before).
Took some time time to get. Hyundai to believe there was a problem, I even had to arrange a meeting with 2 other Kona owners on the Old Software and video the charging showing the slow charging on our car.
Car went back to the Dealership who advised they found one of the 4 Software updates had not been done correctly, so they re did it.
Checked car on Chargers again, Now its Charging at full speed on Ultra Rapids at 77Kw but the battery is getting hot and the Battery Cooling system is Not Cooling the Battery
More and More Test by Us with Results sent to Hyundai, So now Hyundai decide they want our car back at the Tilbury Import Centre to have it checked by a Senior Tech. Car it taken to Dealers and Transported to Tilbury.
---- THE TILBURY SAGA -----
Here we get major issues with Hyundai and the Transport Company. (We have a Live 360degree Dash cam in car which recorded the whole weeks saga).
Car was picked up on Sat am from Dealer, (Not the Friday am as agreed), as such the Transport Co could not get into Tilbury Docks, so rather than take car to a secure compound, they dumped the car in a Motorway Services from 5pm Sat to 11am Mon.
Car Finally Made it To Tilbury, Tech on phone to his boss says they have updated another software package and will blame the dealer for the issues saving them face, then goes on to describe all EV owners as Sad Anal ****ers (His boss on the phone agrees with him), He makes it clear he is not going to look for overheating.
Car is returned back to Dealer from Tilbury, and on the way back one of the Recovery Truck drivers decides (Again live on video), to search the car and steal from it, items including the 4G modem the car was using for comms, and other stuff of ours.
Theft is reported and Hyundai replace the items stolen
-----------------------------------
Now in July 2020
Car is returned to us, charging checked again, works fine on Ultra Rapid and Rapids now, but till battery getting too hot and not cooling,
After some rumblings on Social Media Hyundai agrees to send its technical director a top techs to meet up with us at the ionity chargers in Milton Keynes to test car alongside on of theirs.
We meet up, and within 5mins they confirm the car is not cooling, and needs repair.
They order parts while we stand at the charger, and take our car back to Hyundai head office, saying it will be ready in a week, and leave us with the Press Fleet car they brought with them to test.
A week later they call to say the parts have been replaced and they have checked it on an ultra rapid charger and the battery is still not cooling correctly.
------------------------------------
So going into August 2020 we will not be going back into our car as it ends its 2nd year of service.
Apart from the faff at the end its been a great car and would highly recommend the Kona to anyone wanting a bullet proof EV.
AND REGARDS BATTERY LIFE. Hyudais Own top Techs tested the battery and were surprised to report that even at 67k miles and an unkown amount of time spent with no cooling while rapid charging the battery health was 100% with a 0.0v Cell deviance. Says a lot for EV Batteries.
We are using their press car for now and will start our New EV Journey on the 1st Sept 2020 which I am sure I will document on here.
So I cant really do my final cost of ownership as I normally would as its not possible to break down, but as stated over the 2 years we ran it, 1 set of tyres and servicing so you really cant say more than that..
SO FINAL SCORES
23 Months of Ownership. (18 Months of Use due to overseas work and Covid lockdown)
67k miles covered
Costs to keep on road £0 (Excluding Insurance etc)
CAR SCORES AN "A+" Outstanding
HYUNDAI SCORES A "D+" Could Do Much Better.
Will be back in Sept All being well with the World.
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