If you have any questions, just let me know and I’ll try to answer them. This article can provide you with basic knowledge about the electric car in advance.

From Heilbronn home with the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro Style

The five-door hatchback, which awaits me in a rather inconspicuous parking garage near the press workshop, looks anything but inconspicuous itself. At first glance, the electric car with a short front and longer rear is quite convincing. In the trend color white and the middle equipment variant style I do not really remain much left than to enter the electric motor and bring the first kilometers behind me. 88 kW (120) hp should bring me home, purely electrically, of course. You have to cover a distance of around 70 kilometers; even if I don’t intend to choose the direct route.

The temptation of the IONIQ Elektro on its maiden voyage for electric car news is too strong.to get to know each other a little better. With a range of 280 kilometers according to the NEDC cycle, I don’t have to worry about arriving home safely in the evening. The IONIQ is innately designed for efficiency and technology. Hyundai engineers and designers worked hand in hand throughout the development process. It makes perfect sense, as it was clear from the start that the Hyundai IONIQ would be the first vehicle in the world in which the three alternative drives were an integral part of the development right from the start.

Origin of the model name

This is followed by a short excuse for the origin of the model name. The two parts of the model name IONIQ refer to the future-oriented vehicle concept. The first part, ION, relates to electrical propulsion – an ion is an electrically charged atom. The second part, IQ, derives from the English word unique – translated: unique – from.

Farewell to looking for keys – thanks to the smart key system

But let’s get back to the maiden voyage. Grab the key from your pocket, get in, put the key in the ignition lock and off you go… You might think that, but that’s not the case with the IONIQ. The key stays in your pocket. Tiresome searching and rummaging around – ideally with full hands – is a thing of the past.

The central locking with smart key system allows access simply by having the key nearby and unlocks the e-vehicle. Also, it starts without key in the ignition lock, which by the way does not exist. A simple start button is enough to breathe life into the 4.47 meter long hatchback.

Which driving mode should it be..

And then you hear the familiar sound of an electric car. Provided the windows are down and you listen carefully. Because in contrast to a combustion engine, the electric motor of the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro only hums very gently. At least until you press the gas pedal. Carefully. Because the IONIQ definitely reacts to gentle pressure on the pedal. Depending on the selected “drive mode” sometimes more, sometimes less strong.

There are three driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), whereby the respective recuperation can be modified independently in four stages, including “sailing mode”. The recuperation of the IONIQ Elektro can be adjusted using the shift paddles, which can be found on the steering wheel. With them, the driver can influence the recuperation – and, for example, reduce brake energy recovery in favor of a fluid driving behavior in the city.

After the first few kilometers, the principle goes hand in hand. From my own experience, I can say that the brakes are only used sparingly in the two-week journey with the IONIQ Elektro. By skilfully selecting the recuperation levels, the e-car can be navigated through city traffic without having to intervene by braking. Even with our very hilly landscape, it was easy to get from A to B. A positive side effect: The 28 kWh lithium-ion battery is still charging.

Relaxed on the go in everyday life; if you want.

The Hyundai IONIC Elektro comes with 88 kW (120 hp). A maximum torque of 295 Newton meters is one of the characteristics of the electric motor, which accelerates the e-Hyundai to up to 165 km/h. But it doesn’t have to be that fast. Because you can relax and glide comfortably far below the maximum speed. The Eco mode, for example, does not let you get over the 120 km/h limit. Rightly so. Even on the Autobahn, this has proven to be perfectly adequate. Higher speeds only tempt you to jostle and this is not energy-efficient either.

Especially with an e-car, the IONIQ and other models from the past have shown me that relaxed driving is the top priority. Not covering a distance from A to B as quickly as possible. Because then the same thing happens with Hyundai‘s electric car as with other electric vehicles. The charge indicator goes faster than you think from 100% towards 0%. Fear of range arises and even the air conditioning cannot reduce the sweat of fear that arises because you do not know whether you will reach the desired goal.

So drive leisurely, play with recuperation (shift pedals on the steering wheel) and arrive relaxed at your destination. According to the manufacturer, up to 280 kilometers are possible according to the NEDC cycle. In reality, however, one moves probably closer in the range between 210 – 230 kilometers. At least these are my experiences from two weeks with the Hyunda IONIQ Elektro. But no worry; you can also act in the direction of the zero-kilometer remaining range. Charging is the magic word here!

One charge please!

If the remaining range is coming to an end, you can counteract this with the included ICCB charging cable for connecting to standard household 230-volt sockets. However, if you do not want to charge at your home socket, you should look for an appropriate alternative. The intelligent technology of the Ioniq Elektro is practically compatible with almost all charging options. Whether it’s a household socket or a quick charging station, whether direct or alternating current – as a user you only have to connect the vehicle and the Ioniq Elektro automatically adjusts to the respective power source.

Those who have appropriate charging stations in the immediate vicinity can count themselves lucky here. Is the case with us too. However, these always seem to fail when I want to charge the electric car. Which would not be a problem if the Type 2 charging cable is missing from the charging station, because a Type 2 charging cable is also included as standard from the Style equipment line onwards, which is optionally supplied for the Trend entry-level variant.

To classify the charging speeds, it should be said that the Hyundai IONIC Elektro can be recharged to 80 percent in around 23 minutes at a 100 kW fast charging station. It takes 30 minutes at a 50 kW station.

In companies, energy suppliers or municipalities, you usually find wallboxes with 230 volts and 4.6 kW power, with the maximum charging time being six hours. A conventional 230-volt socket, mostly used as an emergency solution, needs at least 12 hours, depending on the power provided, to bring the IONIQ Elektro back to 100 percent power capacity from zero.

A look at the exterior and interior of Hyundai’s electric car

Not only the technical data and small refinements of the IONIQ Elektro play a role in everyday life. Of course, the appearance and the overall appearance of the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro are not left out. Therefore, I would like to take a quick look at the exterior and interior of the electric car.

Exterior of the Hyundai IONIQ Electric

One thing is the same for all variants of the Hyundai IONIQ, the vehicle length, which is given as 4.47 meters. Built on a common platform, it presents itself from the best side in terms of flexibility, space and user-friendliness. This is only possible because the engineers did not have to make any compromises in terms of space. The drive elements are located in the engine compartment or the passenger cell; without affecting the space available for the occupants.

The exterior of the IONIQ received the Red Dot Design Award; this deliberately only differs in details for the three drive variants. The front of the vehicle variants is likely to be the most striking. While the hybrid models have a black radiator grille in Hyundai’s typical hexagonal shape, the purely electrically powered Ioniq Elektro draws attention to itself with a silver-colored, closed front.

Nevertheless, the IONIQ Elektro also awaits with a coupe-like body shape with flowing lines and a favorable drag coefficient of just 0.24. This excellent value was made possible by the complex development in the wind tunnel. In addition to the differences between the plug-in hybrid and the pure hybrid version, the IONIQ electric comes with a rear spoiler and diffuser as well as an aerodynamically optimized and extensively clad underbody. The wheel design and a special air duct on the front wheels are also among the special details of the purely electric variant.

In terms of safety, it should be noted that the Ioniq is one of the most crash-safe models in Germany, as it received the top five-star rating in the EuroNCAP tests. The particularly rigid chassis has certainly contributed to this. With 53 percent high-strength steel alloys, the Ioniq is particularly stiff, which is reflected in superior handling and high impact energy absorption.

What is particularly striking about the IONIQ Elektro is the dynamic hatchback. A large, wide-opening tailgate offers the appropriate opportunity to get good access to the trunk. Furthermore, the E variant of the IONIQ is distinguished by contrasting color elements on the underside of the bumper. While the hybrid models emphasize their environmental friendliness with blue or silver accents, depending on the paintwork, the Ioniq Elektro uses copper-colored or silver elements. It also rolls onto the road on 16-inch alloy wheels.

For me, a special highlight, which you can see at first glance but cannot guess in detail what is behind it, is the exterior color of the vehicle. Because environmental friendliness is also a top priority when it comes to painting: the components of each of the exterior paints are made from soybean oil. What’s more: the bonnet and luggage compartment lid, like parts of the chassis, are made of aluminum for weight reasons – that saves almost 13 kilograms or 45 percent compared to steel. And even the luggage compartment cover weighs 25 percent less thanks to the use of lightweight materials.

Interior of the Hyundai IONIQ Electric

But Hyundai has not only thought about the exterior of the IONIQ Elektro. Inside, too, the e-vehicle impresses with the highest standards of comfort, connectivity and active safety. Inside, you are greeted by a functionally elegant ambience, which at the same time focuses on environmental compatibility. This can be seen in the environmentally friendly materials that are the focus.

For example, Hyundai uses recycled plastic, powdered wood and volcanic rock for the interior door panels. The sugar cane fiber content is over 25 percent. With the same quality, unchanged appearance and unrestricted noise insulation, the weight is reduced by 20 percent compared to conventional material. Furthermore, raw materials from sugar cane are also used in the manufacture of roof liners and carpets. This helps improve indoor air quality while increasing the recyclability of vehicle parts at end-of-life.

The vegetable oil, which has already proven to be particularly environmentally friendly in the exterior paintwork, is also used in the control panel for the power windows on the driver’s side. Thus, the color cautioned there consists more than 13 percent from biological substances such as vegetable oil. Just these trifles, which one learns only with a closer reading or seeking to look, they are convincing me of this e-car.

Simple things such as the standard automatic climate control, which can be switched into a sparing operating mode and only cools or warms the driver, make the difference. Provides the air conditioning as a pleasant and refreshing climate with the most minimal energy expenditure as possible. From the equipment line Style is also a heat pump as standard on board. This has a positive effect on the reach. If the car is connected to the power grid, it can be pre-climatized and thus also saves energy that would otherwise be pulled out of the battery.

In addition to these small details, the IONIQ Elektro convinces with one thing in particular: space. Because thanks to the generous 2.7 meter wheelbase, up to five occupants can find plenty of space on board, for example in the first row they can have a shoulder width of almost 1.43 meters. The leg room is also plentiful at 1.07 meters at the front and almost 91 centimeters at the rear. The trunk has a loading volume of 350 liters (according to VDA standard 211) and up to 1.410 liters (according to VDA standard 214) with the rear seat bench folded down.

I was also impressed by the center console of the Hyundai e-car, which is not only clearly tidy. But also allows intuitive control and addressing of various functions. You can even place your tablet in the front center armrest and charge it using the USB charging socket there. Whether you actually use it is of course another matter. For me, this still offered enough space to put my wallet, keys, camera and Co. to be stowed safely during the journey.

Technical data of the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro at a glance

The IONIQ Elektro comes as a classic five-door hatchback and has the following dimensions in mm: 4.470 (length) x 2.060 (width) x 1.450 (height). In the official brochure (as of January 2018), the wheelbase is given as 2.700 mm specified.

The curb weight of the e-car depends on the equipment – after EC operating license with a full tank incl. 75 kg rider weight – in the range of 1.420 to 1.550 kg specified. The permissible payload weight is therefore also between 330 and 460 kg, depending on the equipment variant. The upper limit here is the permissible total weight of 1.880 kg as a limit. There is no trailer hitch for the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro; so you don’t have to worry about trailer loads.

Driven by a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor (AC) installed at the front, the IONIQ electric has an output of 88 kW (120 hp). The electricity required for this is stored in a high-performance battery, which is installed under the floor in the center of the vehicle. The lithium polymer battery comes with a battery capacity of 28 kWh. I already took a look at the loading times, based on the different loading options, at the beginning.

The maximum speed of the e-vehicle is 165 km/h. With a zero to hundred acceleration in 9.9 seconds (sport mode). It goes from 80 to 120 km/h in approx. 7.7 seconds. For me no decisive values; because I use the vehicle more for leisurely, relaxed driving. However, what has a positive effect is the immediate response when starting. Even a slight pressure on the gas pedal is enough to set the IONIQ Elektro in motion.

In this context, I would also like to mention the “Auto Hold” function. Once activated after starting the vehicle, it is no longer necessary to keep the brake pedal pressed after stopping at traffic lights. The IONIQ Elektro remains stationary until the accelerator pedal is pressed again. Incredibly comfortable.

The CO2 emissions, combined [l/100 km], are given as zero for the IONIQ. The e-car consumes an average of 11.5 kWh per 100 kilometers. In practice, these values tended to move upwards in the range of 12.4 kWh. But of course it depends on the individual driving style of each individual.

Hyundai IONIQ Elektro – a look at the equipment variants

No matter which of the three equipment packages you choose, the engine performance of the IONIQ Elektro is the same for all of them. The power of the electric car is 88 kW or 120 hp. The constant motorization not only applies to the purely electric variant of the IONIQ, but also to the plug-in hybrid models and the hybrid models.

Furthermore, an autonomous emergency brake assistant is standard on board for all equipment variants. This uses radar sensors and cameras to detect people and other vehicles crossing the road, for example, and automatically initiates emergency braking if the driver does not react to visual and acoustic warning signals. In practice, I preferred not to test this time; but will definitely work.

The Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) is also on board. This is an adaptive cruise control system with distance control, which automatically maintains the distance to the vehicle in front and, if necessary, reduces the speed and increases it again as the distance to the vehicle in front increases. For example, ASCC brakes the Ioniq Elektro to a standstill in stop-and-go traffic and automatically accelerates the car again if traffic is moving again within five seconds. I became aware of it more by accident; but can at least confirm that ASCC works smoothly in practice.

Hyundai IONIQ Elektro Trend – equipment highlights

• Navigation system with 8″ screen, DAB+
• Adaptive cruise control system with distance control and stop function
• Autonomous Emergency Brake Assist
• Smart key system incl. Start/Stop button
• Heated rear window with timer
• heated rearmirros; electrically adjustable
• 6.5 J x 16 alloy wheels white with 205/55 R 16 tires
• Steering wheel with shift paddles to control brake energy regeneration

Hyundai IONIQ Electro Style – equipment highlights

Equipment highlights in addition to Trend

• LED headlights (low beam)
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging
• rain sensor
• Front center armrest with tablet holder and USB charging socket

Hyundai IONIQ Elektro Premium – equipment highlights

Equipment highlights in addition to style

• Blind Spot Assist
• leather seats
• Parking assistance front and rear
• Driver’s seat electrically adjustable with memory function
• Pedals with metal attachment

Prizes & promotion through the environmental bonus of the Hyundai IONIQ

The electric car purchase premium was introduced on 18.05.Adopted in the cabinet in 2016. The actual purchase premium varies in this case. For example, buyers of purely battery-powered vehicles receive a subsidy of 4.000 euros, drivers of a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor and a combustion engine receive a bonus of 3.000 €. With hybrid vehicles, the decisive factor is whether they can be charged at the socket.

It can therefore be said that there is no premium subsidy for the Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid. However, the IONIQ’s plug-in hybrid will be available with 3.000 euros and the E version with 4.000 euros funded by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bafa).

Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid

• Trends – 24th.200.00 euros
• style – 27.550.00 euros
• Premium – 30th.270.00 euros

Hyundai IONIQ plug-in hybrid

• Trends – 29th.900.00 euros
• style – 33.250.00 euros
• Premium – 35.750.00 euros

Hyundai IONIQ Electric

• Trends – 33.300.00 euros
• style – 35.500.00 euros
• premium – 38.000.00 euros

Price list as of January 2018

A conclusion after two weeks with the Hyundai IONIQ Elektro

Hyundai is on my doorstep faster than I wanted to return the IONIQ Elektro to its own fleet. The e-vehicle could have stayed with me for a few more days or even weeks. It was simply too much fun to get from A to B fully electrically in everyday life.

Even with the IONIQ Elektro, I didn’t quite manage to get rid of my fear of range, but thanks to recuperation pedals, a forward-looking driving style and a little more trust in the electric car, I always arrived relaxed at my destination. Personally, I am now firmly convinced that even combustion engine drivers from the very beginning would not regret the switch after a few days in an electric car.

However, we still have the problem of the charging infrastructure, which is anything but convincing, at least in our more rural area. Here, however, there will certainly have to be a lot of movement on the part of politics in the next few years. So that e-cars can also be on the road in larger numbers.

Otherwise, of course, I hope that you liked my test and driving report of the Hyundai IONIQ Electro Style. If you have any questions about the vehicle, my impressions and my opinion, I would be happy to receive a comment or an email from you.

Hyundai provided me with the IONIQ Elektro free of charge for this test report for a period of two weeks. However, this does not affect my honest opinion written here.