[EV Fan]

Since, we already have quite a few owners who have provided detailed reviews and ownership experiences on the car, especially related to the operating expenses. So, a fair heads up - i will be reinforcing their experiences, with a bit more figures.

Drive & Ride Experience
EV’s in general are easier and predictable, to drive, than any automatic ICE. The one pedal driving adds a layer of safety and convenience that ICE vehicles cannot match. The Kona’s felt just a notch better than the other EV’s at that time.

Key features:
Kona specific – Hyundai had taken quite a lot of stuff that EV’s do good and made it so much more better with the Kona

• In all other EV’s i had to tune myself to the car’s offerings/limitations but not with the Kona The car literally feels as if it was built around the driver (and driver alone).
  I can fine tune every aspect of the car - Acceleration, regen braking, Drive modes, paddle shifters, steering, name it and it might have it. I keep playing around, based on what my mood dictates.
• Hyundai provided Varying Charging Rates – It has a tuning aspect for even the charging, the Wattage can be set to 1 of 3 options (Maximum, Reduced and Minimum) from the vehicle's Infotainment. The best part - the portable charger has additional setting rates of 12, 10 and 8 Amperes. That means the Kona can charge from wattage rating of as low as 800Watts (lower than the likes of induction cooktops, iron boxes etc).
  I have charged it off from the 5A plug point, using a 5A to 15A adapter.
  Yes, it might take days to charge completely but this feature is meant for small top ups in dire emergencies or manage load for homes with low contracted load/wiring- it just opens up a whole lot more charging venues.
• Energy Consumption Screen & Efficiency Calculation – Makes experimenting a whole lot fun when i can see the results real time and accurately. The km/KWh reading in the Kona seems to be quite mature/accurate , even as the terrain varied across the trip.
• Ventilated Seats – Cannot do without this now, thanks partly due to the leather seats that Hyundai gave in the first place.

Applicable to all EV’s

• One Pedal Driving, the signature true EV advantage – Appreciated by everyone, who got the feel of it. Setting on one pedal driving, the vehicle seems so much more in control. This is engine braking at the best.
  The regenerative braking control on the accelerator pedal means no more juggling around with the 3 pedals. The vehicle is already braking before my foot goes from accelerator to the brake pedal.
  My brake pedal looks shiny and untouched compared to the accelerator pedal or the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
• A Seamless automatic – No more tuning the driving style to the gear ratios or the rpm band of the engine or the clutch. Basically no gear or clutch computations – the likes of downshifting, up-shifting, rpm planning. The inbuilt quality of an EV, they free up the brain bandwidth and are truly a blessing in heavy traffic.
  Can it help reduce the road rage if everyone had an EV in traffic?
  Smooth as DSG's, DCT's, CVT's? I think now the question should be smooth as EV's?
• Adds Charge ("Like Magic" as a kid remarked) - Regen especially when coming down ghats/hill. Show me any ICE or Hybrid which has more fuel at the bottom, than what it started out with, at the top of the hill.
  Yes, it takes more charge to go up in an EV but so do the ICE’s when climbing up, yet no reclaiming the fossil fuel going back down.
• No vibrations/NVH – All EV’s just seem so peaceful and less tiring, compared to driving an ICE. This can only be realized after driving a few months of only EV (completely off an ICE), and then one fine day going back on to an ICE.
• Cost of running – Quite a lot is already said on that. I have included brief stats down below for anyone interested.

Nothing can have pros all around, there are always some “CON”cerns:
Kona specific – Why Hyundai, Why

• Battery Cooling System – Requires me to ensure DCFC happens on a monthly basis even if i don’t need to. This was explained in detail in this thread. Achilles Heel (Hyundai Kona | A wonderful car with an Achilles heel)
  Unfortunately, that is something i got to know only after my purchase else would have tested at the time of inspection. But no, it had not been documented well enough, till i ended up as the guniea pig. Fortunately my nomadic indulgences mean, i usually end up doing DCFC’s quite often.
• Ground Clearance – The Kona had the ground clearance of a sedan. I got reminded of that once and have been managing it well enough after that. Though i must admit, mine has seen quite a few tough stretches, as i go about exploring wilderness and offbeat places (No i do not mean technical off-road, just the occasional one wheel hanging in air or using the front camera for path-finding missions akin to the Mars Rover).
• Co passenger and Rear Passenger comfort – They put all the good things for the driver seat and reduced everything for all the other seats. Makes it glaringly evident, that this car was designed only with the driver in mind, rest all should manage quietly.
• Leather Seats – I want fabric seats, but the seat ventilation & side airbags, means it’s not happening without possible serious consequence.
• Hyundai dumbed down the Kona that was given to India. Internationally it had HUD, auto headlight dimming feature and selection of the MID readout display settings independent of the Drive Modes. So many other desired customization's that were removed, some of them only on the software.
  These were all available in International Kona but it never made it to India. And yes, this one is an absolute rant against Hyundai.
• Kona and the V2V/V2L - The existing Kona has some form of V2V demonstrated by Hyundai itself, then why doesn’t Hyundai provide it when everyone does.
  Kona Electric V2V (Hyundai makes things convenient for Kona Electric owners)
• No 64Kwh, no facelift, no Gen 2 for India- Why?

Applicable to all EV’s

• Technological Dependence – It is not possible to do long EV journey’s without a smart phone and without apps, especially the god of all “EV apps” – the mighty “PLUGSHARE”. Anything wrong with the phone or the apps and the stars can quickly line up to make the trip with an EV, a disaster. I have had situations where i helped other EV owners to charge their car with my account.
  And this can be especially bothersome for a person who is not technologically inclined.
• Route planning – Now, this can be somewhat a detrimental factor if the charging infrastructure is poor. But here in South India the charging infrastructure is already quite good enough. I need more breaks than what the Kona needs for charging.
  On an average the Kona with my driving style requires a charging stop at 200-250 kms with sufficient buffer to not even give a hint of range anxiety. But on an average i end up taking breaks at 150-200 kms especially since i am driving solo and at the same time cannot afford to be tired at the end of my journey.
  Never found this a concern as i used to do this even before, for food/restrooms. Now the focus has just shifted to charging + food.
  But hopefully the way more eateries are adding charging infrastructure this should be a thing of past.
• The still expanding service network – Not all the service centers can support EV’s and the one’s that can are spread far apart. Far away from major cities, we can have a service center (of the same dealership) literally at walking distance but would end up having to go to a service center 100km away for the required EV support. God forbid if it that service center does not meet expectations, because that would mean going a few hundred more km’s before we get to the next EV service center.
• Suspension & Ride quality – Something that all EV’s are facing to some extent. Even with underinflated tires the suspension seems somewhat stiffer than an ICE with overinflated tires. I don't know about other but i got accustomed to it now(just get occasionally reminded when i end up in an ICE).
• High Upfront cost? – Yes, most EV's are being priced close to the top trims of their ICE counterparts and yet the long list of ICE's trim features cannot beat, what that Electric Drivetrain automatically brings in. I am happy to pay that extra premium or rather drop to a lower segment EV hatchback than picking a base variant of ICE.

Finally the Numbers
Note: Figures are only with soft compound tires like Michelin Primacy and Continental UC6. I have purposefully omitted figures with low rolling resistance stock tires, as these were giving 20+% better results while seriously sacrificing grip/traction and riding characteristics. (I did maintain another thread if anyone was interested on those numbers Efficiency Obsessed Driving (Hyundai Kona – Beating the ARAI rating of 452 km/single charge without extreme hypermiling measures) )
And importantly, I am quite a sedate driver. Example of my timings(including city bottlenecks):
Chengannur - Bangalore is around 14.5 hours, Bangalore - Hyderabad around 10 hours, Chengannur – Ernakulam 2.25 hours, Chengannur – Trivandrum 2.25 hours and so on. Folks who have done these journeys can now understand how i drive.
Drivetrain/Trip Efficiency (km/KWh)

• Mostly: 9-10 km/KWh
  Average traffic and hot climate of Kerala. Average speeds of 40-45kmph and occasional top speeds of 90 kmph.
• Highest: 11-13 km/KWh
  Thanks to a pleasant climate (sweet spot's somewhere around 30 degees Celsius) and top speed rarely exceeding 70kmph
• Lowest : 6-7 km/KWh
  Combinations of high idling time, peak summer heat and miserable traffic(like in Bengaluru). Higher top speeds of 100+kmph results around 7km/KWh even though average speeds do not improve substantially, hovering around 55kmph, primarily due to increased time spent in charging.

Portable Charger AC Efficiency (KWh charged/actual consumed)

• Mostly 80-85%
  Tried charging at multiple rates ranging from 0.8KW to 2.6KW. Varies primarily due to voltage and somewhat due to climate.
• Highest: 90%
  Observed if the voltage “during charging” is between 225-235V and the climate is mild/cool (Below 27 deg Celsius).
• Lowest: 75%
  Noticed especially after trips involving extensive DC charging. Or sometimes when voltages are way off (higher or lower than the above mentioned range).

Fast Charger DC Efficiency (KWh charged/actual consumed)

• Mostly around 90%
  Quiet dependent on climate.
• Highest: 93%
  Vehicle was charging at night (low ambient temperature with breeze) and around 30KW charging rate. Battery cooling was not initiated
• Lowest : 77%
  Hot climate during extensive running. Have noticed even lower rates of 60%, when charging sessions got cut short due to failures (Sessions with less than 5-6 units of charging where a good percentage of that energy was used to initiate the battery cooling).

Running Costs
Cost of Running Rs/km with extensive public station charging

• Mostly around 2-2.5 Rs/km.
  Varies substantially due to state wise charging rates. And has been increasing slowly due to increased per unit rates.
• Costliest: 2.9 Rs/km
  Low efficiency due to relatively faster driving, and the increased charging.
• Cheapest : 1.8 Rs/km
  Low charging rates of around 15Rs/unit and lower speeds.

Cost of Running Rs/km with only charging at home

• Mostly around 0.95 Rs/km
  A sedate driving style and comparatively lower residential tariff.
• Costliest: 1.1 Rs/km
  Usually due to fast highway runs or high idling.
• Cheapest : 0.8 Rs/km
  High efficiency runs.

Maintenance Costs

• Cumulative Service Costs (over last 3 paid services) – Around 15K with major cost being the mandated coolant change.
• Consumables: Around 80K - Stuff like tires, wiper blades and AC filter. Brakes are still the original ones and literally unused.
• Pampering the Vehicle Cost - Priceless

[EV Fan]

The things that i absolutely adore about this car:
First & Foremost – Kona feels like an absolute “Tech-Wheels“(meme Hot-Wheels), for me the Kona seemed the most versatile of the lot.

Between 3 drive modes (+1 speed limited) with each having it’s own unique combination of 5 regen levels (0,1,2,3 and paddle pull), meant that the car can have multitude of options across the entire spectrum. From the most tenacious ECO mode to the squealing wheel spins in SPORTS mode, Kona can tune itself across the entire spectrum.

And the best part the paddle shifters, far more intuitive than fiddling with buttons on console. The paddle pull has always provided substantial braking before the foot reached the brakes in emergency braking situation.

Hyundai gave even a choice for charging wattage - not something that other EV manufacturers thought of back then.

Secondly, I have an efficiency obsessed brain. This car gives the feedback to almost everything real time.


It has enough interactive feedback to make me feel like gamifying my every aspect of my drive.

The tool


While i am not obsessed to max out on the range, I am absolutely obsessed to reach my destination most efficiently and ensure even charge most optimally.

I want to know how each factor will affect the car’s charge efficiency – what difference do the tires make, the air conditioning makes, the DC vs AC charging cycle makes.

Charging cycles – Have tried portable & DC charging at different KW rating’s, different timings and different climate just to figure how the vehicle behaves. (Post still in works.)
I do sometimes pick a slower 30KW charger over a 60 KW charger when the trip allows. As this does not initiate the “Battery Care cooling”. So all the units are consumed only by the battery.

Air-Conditioning – Played around with settings to see what all it can do. How each setting modifies convenience according to seasons and at what cost to the energy stored.
Posts on these:
AC Experiments (Experiment: Parked car under the sun | How many kWh to cool the superheated cabin?)
AC's in monsoon (EV-Specific efficiency quirks & tricks to improve range)

Tires – My experiments meant changing tires even when they were as good as new. I had Primacy’s and they were swapped to UC6 just in the name of experiment. Even the UC6 may soon see it’s way out to another set. (Post still in works).

Next experiment ?– Maybe a change in the colour of the interiors or even the exterior’s are next.
Yes the car is a handsome blue, something which made me shell out more than what i should have got if for, but then white would make it a bit more efficient. Yet to settle the tussle between the heart and brain.
And same with the Interior’s – Black is easier to maintain but white would help improve the cooling and the cramped feeling.
My list of experiments and learning’s would definitely continue on this thread
Efficiency Quirks (EV-Specific efficiency quirks & tricks to improve range)

Something about the car that is frustratingly miserable
The battery + cabin cooling system made worse by the fact that not all service centre’s are EV ready.
Now the problem is that it keeps rearing it’s ugly head up again and again. Somehow the dealership here is trying it's best to keep this trouble tolerable. 3 round’s of repair have already been done for the compressor and the expansion valve. While fortunately they were done in the warranty period, it still requires a few unnecessary steps on a regular basis to ensure the valve and the compressor do not fail again. Unfortunately can’t expect Hyundai to do a redesign on a discontinued product so it's the dealership that is on the receiving end.

This fear is just omnipresent, like always in the back of my head also because not all Hyundai service centers can fix it as of now. I can take the Kona without being concerned about the charging infrastructure, but even a slight noise from my compressor and i am on high alert.
On a recent 1400 km “running around in nature” trip i realized that i only had 4 Hyundai service centers in the entire trip that could take in the EV’s. And the worst part was that at any given point of time only 1 of them would be available within a 100-200kms radius, whereas if it was an ICE then i would have been spoiled for choices.
Hopefully this is resolved, once all the service centers start supporting EV’s.

[chohan]

Originally Posted by EV Fan

The things that i absolutely adore about this car:

And the best part the paddle shifters, far more intuitive than fiddling with buttons on console. The paddle pull has always provided substantial braking before the foot reached the brakes in emergency braking situation.

Can’t stress enough on the pull type real time regeneration via paddles. I would buy a Hyundai ev simply for this feature. On my recent trip to Shimla in BMW X1, my right foot started hurting because of constant shuffling between braking and acceleration while going downhill. In my Ioniq 5 I rarely have to lift the right foot from accelerator because for braking I pull the paddle instead.

[EV Fan]

The Blue Marble comes home
Better late than never, the "prequeal" to the ownership post. This was due for more than two years. Fair warning this is an excruciatingly long post.

About me and my Background:
I am a guy who dreams of carefully mulling over an idea, in high hopes of a “well thought out decision making process” and a planned execution like “clockwork”. But destiny (or maybe my heart) usually ends up taking me on a course which is usually quite different.
The ongoing overly cautious buying process was interrupted by an impulse purchase. The vehicle made its entry during a period of complete upheaval in our lives.

History - Being city dwellers from a middle class family, we relied completely on public transport. Neither us nor our relatives had ever owned any vehicle, until a few years ago. So, it suffices to say that i was a complete novice when it came to ownership. But that does not mean i was oblivious when it came to cars, i was decently informed.

Though the only driving i had done was as backup driver in friend’s cars for long trips or when they were too drunk (advantage of being a non drinker), and maybe sometimes as the emergency driver for the company’s vehicle.
But all this changed when we decided to say farewell to the cities and go back to our roots – a small village in Kerala. A complete shock in terms of convenience and lifestyle.
A limited public transportation system centered around larger towns, meant it was very difficult to manage in the villages without our own means of transport especially for a nomadic soul like me.
Hence, started the search for our first car - With all the fears, qualms and the perceived weight of the first big purchase.

What we needed
The environment at home with all the suggestions trickling in, pointed to a simple people mover – fuel efficient & reliable.
A budget friendly Maruti and keep it till it dies or i die. They actually did not expect a lot of driving from me as i was an advocate of public transport. So a cheap Maruti with less running and no thought on ROI was considered as the best option. Or maybe go after a good Honda / Toyota if I was willing to "Splurge" just for my headstrong insistence on safety ratings.

Source: TeamBHP
And most importantly "NEW" Vehicle, no seconds - Family's too wary of second hand vehicles (Mom actually was quite eagerly looking forward to the new car ceremony).
But for me the biggest concern was that all were fossil fuel powered cars aka ICE’s.

What “I TRULY WANTED”
Don’t get me wrong, i do like ICE’s also. But for the "Environmentally Conscious" heart and an "Efficiency Obsessed" brain that i had, the electric car was the solution. 80% efficiency of EV vs 20% efficiency of ICE, regenerative braking and the best part put solar on rooftop and we have a lid on the running emission’s.
In fact i was waiting for years for Nissan Leaf to come to Indian shores, as the options in Indian market the E2O and the eVertio had a range that i could cover on my cycle.
So after quite some dilly-dallying, in a soul liberating session, at the home front - it was decided to take the once in a lifetime plunge. EV it is - just go with what i like, even if it meant taking a one time financial hit or worse “A LOAN”.

Selection and the Purchase Process
Even in hindsight i am not sure which is harder, narrowing down the selection or the purchase process. I could try as meticulously as possible to make a rational decision but destiny would throw in a wrench. (though i must admit it also brings about opportunities, for the taking)

The selection process went something like this
Tata Tiago -> Kona -> MG ZS -> Drop EV for now or even look back at ICE's -> Wild card entry, Kona(pre-owned).

Briefly speaking, the experiences were as such:
Mahindra ‘s XUV 400 – The poor efficiency and rigid driving modes were a huge turn off. For me it neither seemed value for money as Tiago nor as good as Kona or ZS to justify a loan. Moreover with Mahindra’s track record with E2O and E-Verito, there seemed no hope of redeeming this product with later updates / improvements. So this was dropped without much thought.

Tata Motor’s Tiago - Newest kid in town

Source: TeamBHP
Pros – Budget friendly(the only EV i could outright buy without denting my financials with loan.), light and efficient, easier entry exit for the shorter folks at home.
Cons – The infamous service support (its hard to survive a lemon with the Indian maker), non ergonomic regen and drive mode controls, very odd / confusing “Efficiency” information display

The huge popularity meant they initially dictated the terms, when it came to pricing, availability and agreement on vehicle PDI before invoicing. A huge turn off during the initial phase itself.
Though atleast these guys did later come back offering the same terms and conditions they had earlier rejected. But the huge cases of unsolved issues running around and personally seeing folks distressed with this, made it a worrisome option, especially if we were to get saddled with a lemon. The more i read, the more service support nightmares started cropping up.

Hyundai Kona – The underrated Performer

Source: TeamBHP
Pros – Highest efficiency that i have ever seen, Energy Consumption Information display and highly customized drive options. And minimal infotainment/connected car features(its actually an advantage for me)
Cons – Ground Clearance, High Cost(meant a Loan).

Yes, i have a soft corner for the underrated types. But it still is a performer.
The efficiency of this vehicle, is what had made me consider it. Even though it would need the helping hand of predatory car loan to get it. The brain was so obsessed with the efficiency that the rational of financials was completely lost on it. The problem was while i was hearing of discounts on Kona in the other cities, Hyundai here had nothing to offer so that meant 2+Lakhs over what folks outside of Kerala were getting for(even after offsetting the road tax)
But then during the Test Drive, Kona scraped at the entry to my parking and worse part - due to the wet tires + tiles it was even unable to get inside (wheelspin due to no traction). Hence, this was rejected with a heavy heart.

It was later only that i realized that even a sedan with similar wheelbase and low GC's like the Kona’s could enter my parking and that the Kona's stock tires were known to have no grip. This realization drove home the fact that the Kona’s test drive vehicle was facing a sagging suspension and worn out tires, the sad reality of test drive vehicles.

MG ZS - the all rounder of the lot.

Source: TeamBHP
The car that was the fallback option. It may not have all the capabilities of the Kona but then neither did it have those shortcomings.
Pros – All rounder, Spacious, No GC issue, A no brainer if anyone thinks of it rationally.
Cons – High Cost(meant a Loan), Sunroof in the ”Exclusive” was a big No-No, no regen level "0"/ no coasting unless we feather the accelerator, no clarity on the base variant "Excite".
It was almost shortlisted but then the pricing concerns again resurfaced with the MG here in Kerala. I was hearing huge discounts from other states but nothing from the MG here in Kerala. Somehow the fact that i am also taking a financial hit in this situation, just did not seem to sit well with me.
Also realized later that the MG ZS’s base variant “Excite” was dumber than the “Exclusive” variant - it had no good energy consumption display.

Hold off the purchase of EV for now
Now this thought did cross my mind, but the fear of high level of digitization and the connected vehicle future was a bit too much.
The subscription models, the higher risk of electronic failures and the connected nature were making atleast the near future look less appealing in terms of reliability.
Add to that the direction in which the market was moving:

• Bigger is better - Bigger battery and heavier EV's. I was looking for lighter and more efficient EV's.
• High level of "maturity" - The manufacturers were bringing algorithms into the driving dynamics, as they understood it. That to me sparked a fear of, less freedom to choose my own settings.
• And the scare of sunroof, the market was pushing the manufacturers towards sunroof's even panoramic ones. Ever seen the movie Jurassic Park, where the dinosaur plunges in through the sunroof? Now just replace the dinosaur with the Indian sun (on a regular basis) or the worst case scenario of a coconut.
  

Look back at ICE's
Last of the breed at around 10L budget.

Source: TeamBHP
But unfortunately Toyota’s, Honda’s had almost moved out of the so called budget segment.
Just look at Toyota, i mean for me Toyota was dead in India, technically it has exited from India and now exists in the form of an outsourced Maruti.
And Honda, to me seems like loitering around for namesake, i mean they have lesser options in their entire line-up, than what some of the brands have in just one type.
Yes, my likings were more from the stable of Honda's/Toyota's. Reliable yet the underrated types – likes of Etios, even Yaris from Toyota or Jazz, BR-V from Honda.

Pre owned Route
A Blue Kona - an inter state purchase from bangalore.

Pros - Direct owner, Closer to budget, supposedly niggle free based on the owner and service history
Cons - a no go from family especially with Second hand concerns and also to some extent the unfulfilled desire of new car, the dings and the scratches that come part of the parcel

And so almost as if on a whim, i was enticed with the option of looking at buying my selection of the car, at the price that i could afford (Or maybe the escapist in me hoping to avoid haggling with the sales advisors, i do not know.)

Destiny deals the hand and heart beckons.
The Rationale - I anyways do not have any capability to negotiate and was definitely on the losing side, be it a company or another owner. Better lose to another human.
The human touch - The heart can easily be lulled in to a sense of security by acquaintance. The company and their sales advisors were after all the unknown. In this case, fortunately or unfortunately, the source brought about an added acquaintance factor to it. This brought down the fear induced defenses, that were usually reserved for the sales advisors.
The Impulse - Somewhere a small excited child in me squeaked “And it is a nice blue in color”.

I knew it right then that i am going to fail miserably in my negotiations.



Yes, i got the car. And yes i failed miserably at the negotiation.

But the Blue Marble came home.

Unknown to me then though, the punishing saga of a failed battery cooling system was to ensue later.

PDI/Checks - These checks do one of the two things, either reinforce the trust that it is a clean car with discovery of a few small hiccups or uncover the dreaded red flags and start giving reasons to back off.

• Service Records - This being an EV helped, most EV owner's can't/won't take it anywhere except authorized service centers. So service records can be considered definitive. And hopefully, even lesser chances of tampering
• RC, Insurance, Fines/NCRB etc - Easy now, thanks to everything being online & centralized. Between service center, RTO portals it's almost quite easy to manage, especially if car has a clean history.
• Service Center Inspection - Definitely a must. It's the first line of defense and for EV's which usually don't have customization's this can be definitive. After all the strict warranty terms mean they would highlight anything that is spotted. (Yes, the battery cooling issue was missed as it was an oddball flaw, something that was almost not known and had no checks)
• 3rd party Inspection - While was not expecting it to be exhaustive. But still it's a small fee and adds a bit of confidence

In this case the car seemed to fall more in the former category.

Re-Registering in Kerala
The NOC process at the Bangalore RTO process was handled by an agent due to the limited time there but the re-registration process in Chengannur was done by me.
The officials at Chengannur RTO were quite forthcoming with all the information and the guidance, even with my added curiosities to know breakups, regulations and the intricacies of the process.
The vehicle inspection was a breeze thanks in part to the RTO officials giving a heads-up on the process and the required documentation.
The entire registration process with a new License plate and RC was smoothly through in less than a month with not more than an 2 hours spent at RTO + vehicle inspection. This in fact felt the fastest and easiest step in the entire process of the purchase.

Closing Notes on the purchase decision
A novice buying second hand, an unproven technology and with no definite way to test the vehicle. It was the perfect recipe for disaster, but i did survive it (Admittedly, more due to mom's prayers or sheer dumb luck, however you want to put it.). And maybe the battery cooling saga was the apt punishment for ruining my mom's new vehicle hopes.

Selection Process – To some extent i am glad that the MG deal never happened. I think for me, it was better to follow the heart (after all even destiny seemed to favor it). The best part – unlike the test drive Kona, mine did not scrape or face wet tire wheelspin issues ever.
The things in Kona that are especially working out in my favor

• Efficiency - for me this has become the most crucial factor and to some extent even a fun factor.
• Predictability - The range estimation is quite good. I just set the next charger on the maps based on the estimated range (with some buffer) and then don't bother looking at the range again.
• The "unique driving" feel - At the wheel of the Kona, it's all about just choosing the settings before starting. With other's it was about - "how can i mange, since this or that option is unavailable".

Purchase process –The purchase process seemed unfavorable/unfair, for me as a customer, in the new car market. Though I understand that i need to improve my skills at bargaining, but with the past experiences i now have no desire to even dare think about any new car purchase.
To me it seemed, post COVID, the car manufacturers have found ways to:

• overprice their products
• push customers in name of shortage and waiting periods.
• manage to push products into the market without sufficient testing or QC

Old vs new – The financial advantage was worth overcoming the initial fear and taking the plunge. But my family members were quite unhappy about this. And when the fault happened, anyone can imagine what my situation was.
But then there are owners here in Kerala who faced this issue in their brand new Kona’s. So, seeing that i was able to live with it, as atleast the car was still in warranty. (This same issue would have been extremely painful if it would have been a new car.)
Fortunately the "Team BHP factor" helped Hyundai swing into action after the initial phase of dragging its feet. And to be fair, the Hyundai experience seems to have been quite good so far.

But all said and done, in my defense (and oddly even in the previous owner’s defense) the misery I faced post the purchase was primarily the Kona’s design flaw. And somehow it seems the Bangalore’s cool weather kept it hidden well enough, only to be revealed later by the harsher conditions in Kerala.

If you managed to read it till here, i must thank you for your patience .

[EV Fan]

Ongoing Experiment with Tires

The Kona for me is akin to a - "play dough" or a "molding clay" in the hands of a kid. And for all those who have tried different tires, know how well tires could change the character of the vehicle. So as usual, i went about experimenting with the tire options available.
The first round was with the soft compound tires.

Please do note that while soft compound tires are quite good, they do have one weakness. If the running is very low and the vehicle is sitting idle without moving an inch, these could face side wall issues (weakening/hardening/cracks) even with a lot of tire tread to spare. Basically the tire might have good tread life but the side wall would have been compromised.

Also, for reference i have been using the EU tire rating labels.

Source:EU Tire Rating
Disclaimer:
While i cannot confirm that the same EU rating label is applicable to the Indian variants of the tyre. This was the closest possible match in terms of the tire specifications.

Kona Tire Specification - 215/55 R17 94V

The Tires

Nexen N Fera SU1 – Stock tires designed to help EV’s with the range test
The Kona came stock with low rolling resistance Nexen N Fera SU1 tires.
EU Tyre Rating

Source: Nexen N'Fera SU1

Pros: Low rolling resistance
These tires seemed to be good with the reduced rolling resistance, the perfect choice when going for range tests.
It’s quite easy to achieve 12+Km/KWh.

Cons: Poor wet weather traction, average cornering and braking characteristics

• The main problem was that the tires had poor wet weather traction. I had personally seen this, when the test drive Kona, with worn out Nexen tires, failed to gain any traction in my parking lot. And while the Nexen tires that came on my Kona fared far better, they too had moments of wheelspins, requiring me to be a bit careful with these tires.
• During cornering these tires were not confidence inspiring, especially when coming down ghat sections. It was only when i moved to softer compound tires and started seeing higher average speed’s, did i realize how the lack of confidence was forcing me to restrict the speed, even on regular winding roads.
• The tires were also lacking sufficient braking ability. The braking ability and regen distance changed dramatically when swapping out from these tires. It was almost a severe recalibration of the regen braking distance when i moved from these to Michelin Primacy tires.

Michelin Primacy 4 ST – The most sought after tires, that can leave a hole in the pocket
The first tire i wanted to try were the Michelin Primacy 4 ST. Now i was mentally prepared for the difference it would have made especially when coming from the stock Nexen’s. But i must stay i was caught off guard literally.
The move from the Nexen’s to the Michelin actually did require substantial recalibration of the braking and range estimation.
EU Tyre Rating:

Source: Michelin Primacy 4ST?

Pros: very good grip even in wet conditions (maybe even a tad too much), Good braking capability meant improved control on the vehicle’s momentum and confidence, good cornering capability meant higher average speeds, less road noise, very good comfort, high tire life, does not loose air even for extended periods

• Coming back from the tire shop, fresh on these tires, i could feel the grip of the tires. Even while coasting it almost felt as if there was a slight amount of regen or brake rub happening. Throughout the trip i was sub consciously pulling on the paddle shifters to reduce regen, even though it was “0” (something that I found a bit irritating). It did take some time getting used to but it provided a substantial improvement in the overall feeling of control on the vehicle’s momentum.
• The brain had already been calibrated to the regen braking distance as per the speed, with the Nexen tires. And at the first traffic light, this same manoeuvre with the Primacy’s ended up stopping the car at almost a car’s length, before the vehicle in front.
• The added advantage of grip, braking and cornering meant i was able to push the Kona further on winding roads. Overall the average speeds improved noticeably on winding roads / ghat sections.
• The car overall felt quite less stiff although the rear seat “bounciness” did not improve substantially (maybe because of the suspension setup).
• I could not test the full wear and tear as I exchanged for UC6 pretty quickly. The tyre shop guy remarked the tires look as good as new and when i told him that it has already done 5k, he estimated a tire mileage easily above 60k for me.
• Lower road noise filtering into the cabin. While i may not be an audiophile, the indicator that i think anyone can relate to is the volume setting in the car's infotainment. It was reduced from 8 to 6. But overall if does feel better insulated from the road noise, especially when cruising on highways (where there is almost no external noise source other than the tires).

Cons: Efficiency and range drop by around 10% compared to stock tires, High Cost

• The efficiency had also dropped substantially, it had dropped from 12km/KWh on the way to tire shop, to around 8km/KWh on the way back from the tire shop. Though it slowly improved to 9-10km/KWh in the subsequent days, it never rose back to the 11-12 that i used to see with Nexen’s
• A set of 4 tires would easily be 10-12K costlier than the next best set of tires

If Michelin had launched the E-primacy, the one designed specifically for EV's then it was a no-brainer. All the advantages of primacy but without losing on the rolling resistance would have definitely warranted the premium that Michelin commands.


Continental UC6 – The all rounder that doesn’t break the bank
Though slightly less capable than Primacy in the grip department, it manages to offset that in the “Value for money” perspective and with a mild advantage in the efficiency department. The other strange thing in the Conti UC6, is the road noise on certain type of road surfaces.
The comparison for the Conti’s would be with the Michelin’s, as both of these tires are almost neck to neck and substantially superior to the Nexen’s
EU Tyre Rating:

Source: Continental UC6

Pros: Good grip, Good braking & cornering capability, good efficiency, high tire life, does not loose air even for extended periods, Value for Money

• While the grip and cornering capability seemed lower than Primacy though not significantly, the braking seemed at par. Maybe some one more technical can enlighten more on this.
  With Primacy's there was this higher level of confidence, a smoother way it handled the curves. That extra control of momentum that is felt with Primacy (almost like a “stickiness” to the road) that accounts for that difference.
  Being sensitive to regen or braking distance, i did not observe noticeable difference or need for re-calibration going from Primacy to UC6.
• Efficiency seems to be marginally better than Primacy. The drop in efficiency seemed as high as Primacy when brand new. But quickly settled to 10-11KM/KWh at the 5K marker where the Primacy had 9-10KM/KWh. But this advantage is too small to be even noticeable in the daily city runs or small trips around the town.
• The Value for Money aspect is where the UC6 seems to have an edge over the Michelin’s

Cons: Road noise (compared to Primacy) on certain kind of tarred roads
It seems higher than Primacy, on certain kind of tarred roads but still superior to Nexen’s anytime. The volume settings remained the same at what they were with the Primacy’s.

Personal Experience:
I would pick the Primacy if most of my driving is in the Ghat sections, even at the cost premium. It absolutely justifies it.
For the efficiency obsessed brain "the grip" seemed a bit excessive and was a nagging feel at the back of the head.

For highways and flat roads, it is the UC6. Does the job well enough and at the same time feels as a Value for Money proposition.
But, after getting a taste of the confidence inspiring Primacy's especially on the curves. The UC6 seem mildly underwhelming, making me lean a bit towards the Primacy.


And yes, i might feel like a bit of oddball case, to change tires at 5k. But i am just curious and want to try them personally.
The online reviews are always perceptive(based on the reviewer), personal experiences can still vary a lot.
And yes, now even the Conti's would be on their way out soon. To make way for a newcomer in the market - the EV ready Apollo Amperion.