Hyundai Ioniq PHEV
Arriving in August of 2017 will be the plug-in
variant, which upgrades the Ioniq HEV specification with a more powerful
electric motor (60 hp up from 43) to support full electric driving over a
broader range of acceleration (even with a full battery, the Kappa engine will
fire up if you floor the accelerator past the “kick-down” detent switch).
Fully kicked down, acceleration is a couple ticks
quicker than in the HEV, at 10.6 seconds to 60 mph. The battery is enlarged to
8.90 kWh, which can support an all-electric driving range of 27-37 miles. A full charge takes 2.5 hours with
a home Level 2 charger, or 8 hours using the 120-volt, 12-amp cord that comes
with the car.
Compared with its chief rival, the Prius Prime, the
battery is slightly larger, the Ioniq PHEV’s range is slightly longer (27
versus 25 miles), and it offers seating for five, while the Prime seats four.
EPA figures are not yet available for the 2018 Ioniq PHEV.
Interestingly, the Ioniq family also employs a small
lithium-ion 12-volt battery located in the trunk, which is charged via DC/DC
converter. This battery also gets in on Hyundai’s exclusive lifetime
hybrid/electric battery warranty.
