Electric vehicles Energy

An up-close look at Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 EV model

South Korea’s automaker, Hyundai, unveiled the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle (EV) back in February. The car is set to be on the road by 2022. It comes with advanced technology, a versatile interior, and a rectangular body modified from the carmaker’s 1970’s brand, the Pony. Some of the additions setting it apart from the Pony include digital running lights. The vehicle is yet to complete formal approvals in Australia, so the detailed study was limited to looking around and sitting in the car. The company’s representatives provided a clear and straightforward presentation that set apart this new Ioniq from other battery-powered brands by Hyundai.

Unlike the other EV models such as Kona and the Ioniq, Hyundai made the Ioniq 5 from scratch. It is understood that Kona and Ioniq were electric versions of former internal combustion engine vehicles by the carmaker. Converting ICEs into EVs comes with some challenges, such as limited space to hold the heavy EV battery and other engineering mishaps. Hyundai recently unveiled a new platform on which all new EVs will be based on. The Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) will be the prototype for the South Korean auto manufacturer’s brands such as cross-over sports utility vehicles (SUVs), fully grown SUVs, sedans, and Utes.

The interiors of the Ioniq 5 are different from previous brands. Once you step inside, you will notice the completely flat floors that make it spacious. The seats are movable depending on the needs of the driver or the passengers. For instance, the console can be pushed forward to create room for rear passengers.

Similarly, the driver’s seat can be moved back to allow the driver to exit to the left or the front passenger to move to the driver’s seat. Furthermore, an adult carrying a baby in the car can slide the rear bench forward where they can access the baby easily. One of the Ioniq 5 interior’s best features is the “anti-gravity” seats that lean backward, create a leg rest, and allow you to lay down in a comfortable posture if you want to rest or nap for some time.

The car provides plenty of headspace at the roof, and the glass roof comes with blinds to protect you from the hot sun. The roof also harbors small solar modules that would recharge your battery to a small extent. Theoretically, the solar roof could fully charge your Ioniq 5 in six months. The front has two horizontal screens to inform the driver, and the dashboard houses all the instrumentation. For the bonnet, the electric motor is placed in a container minimizing the space taken. The trunk houses the charging cables.

One of the EV advanced technologies, vehicle to grid (V2G) or vehicle to home (V2H), allows you to use your car’s power to charge your household when there are blackouts. The Ioniq 5 provides what Hyundai calls “vehicle to load” technology, where you can charge your devices using your car anywhere, anytime. The model presents two configurations, one with 58kWh and the other with a 72.6kWh battery. The electric motor will either be on the front or the rear.

The 72.6kWh battery is coupled with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) electric motor. Together, they produce an output of 225Kw and 605 Nm rotational force that propels the vehicle to 100km per hour in about five seconds. Ioniq 5’s range is approximately 470 kilometers.

For the cost, consumers will part with a speculated amount between $66,900 and $75,000.The model will be competing with the likes of the Tesla Model 3, and with the features we just saw in this close-up look, it would be worth it.