Everytime I drive the Hyundai Kona electric in the city or on the highways or in the hills, I am just enjoying it more and more. It is very very accomplished and well put together
Bhpian shankar.balan recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
My Kona had its first Annual service a couple of weeks ago. It had just about crossed 5600kms. All that got done was AC Cabin Filter change, brakes inspection and cleaning and I asked them to do wheel alignment and tyre balancing. I called Advaith ORR Bangalore and they obliged at very short notice, completed the work in my presence in 3 hours time and I paid and buzzed off. Cost me Rs 4734/-.
Somewhere in the interim I’ve seen fit to pricure and fit up the Farad Roof rails and Roof Box. I know it will hurt the aerodynamics and cut the range and all that, but I like the look. My intent is cosmetic more than utilitarian. Costly, but in my eyes, worth it.
Then we decided, because it is my Kona’s actual First Birthday today, 8 March, that we owed it and ourselves a short road trip holiday to Ooty. It was my birthday present to myself so both it and I are celebrating around the same time – one day apart.
So we started in the early morning with 100% charge which showed 324kms range. I had plugged it into my home 15 Amp plug yesterday and it brought the charge to 100% from 47%, in about 8 hours.
We drove normally on the NICE road well within the prescribed limits. Did about 90-100kmph mostly on cruise control except while overtaking.
Then we reached the Mysore Expressway and I just put it on cruise control all the way at 99kmph.
On the Mysore Expressway I could hear some wind noise from the empty roof box. And at times where there was a little cross wind, I could feel the drag.
However, this is of little consequence.
We stopped for Breakfast at Maddur Tiffanys new restaurant just off that Expressway. Had a good brekkie but could not charge as there is no charger there.
We left the restaurant and went along the service road all the way through the Maddur town and came back onto the Expressway after Maddur.
We reached Shell outside of Mysore on the Ooty Road and stopped for a 30 min top up charge. We had come down to 37% SOC and wanted to take it back up to 80% before going onto the Ooty road and tackling Masinagudi and Sigur Ghat. At 80% I stopped charging as it showed 258kms range.
We then drove through and parked at Cafe Coffee Day Masinagudi for a coffee.
Again no charger there so just a coffee stop.
At this point the car was showing 113kms range.
We proceeded immediately from there up the hills as we had a lunch plan at the Club with an old friend.
I was on Eco Mode throughout because I find this perfectly adequate and as I said, generally drove normally at 100 on the NICE road and on the mysore expressway. All the way from Mysore to the foothills I was at 60-70-80kmph.
I drove as normal up the hills. The hill climb does take a lot of juice. Hence the 11% SOC at the destination.
I use the Kona just like any other car. No hypermiling and babying and all that. And indeed it is fantastically responsive when driving up the hills and it stays beautifully planted on the twisties and the hairpin bends and all. Overtaking is an absolutely fabulous feeling with the Kona’s amazing responsiveness and instant torque!
Anyway, I put it back on charge at the Club. Zeon have very kindly installed their chargers for us at my request. 
Yes, charging will take its time. But Im easy because anyway I also came here to stay and chill and relax and am in no rush whatsoever. Seriously, every time I drive this vehicle, in the city or on the highways or in the hills, I am just enjoying it more and more. It is very very accomplished and well put together. At the discounted price I paid for it, it is really a steal.
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