Hyundai Ioniq looks set to spark up the Kiwi electric vehicle market

Watch as we drive the Hyundai Ioniq EV far, far away from a charging point.

Hyundai is about to make fully electric motoring far more affordable in New Zealand with the launch of a brand-new electric car called Ioniq.

The five-door liftback, which is about the same size as a Hyundai Elantra, is to go on sale with an entry price of $59,990 - thousands of dollars less than the EVs that have entered the Kiwi new-vehicle market so far. Hyundai claims a real-world range of 200km.

At the same time Hyundai NZ is launching a petrol-electric hybrid version of the Ioniq, which will have prices starting at $46,990 which will also undercut other similarly sized new hybrids on sale here.

Ioniq comes with three different powertrains: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and this pure-electric EV with 200km range.

In addition, the company plans to add a plug-in hybrid model later in the year.

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Cabin is deliberately conventional. EV version gets copper accents inside and out... to symbolise electric wiring.

Details of this three-pronged sortie into the EV scene using a single model, were outlined at a media briefing in Queenstown on Wednesday.

Hyundai NZ sales and marketing manager Scott Billman has described the arrival of the Ioniq as possibly the most important event in the company's history, because it will allow Hyundai to become a strong part of forecast rapid growth of electric vehicles.

"The Government wants to see a doubling of the number of EVs in New Zealand every year, with a target of 64,000 units by 2021," he told journalists.

Combined CCS system allows for fast DC charging. Will be compatible with NZ's coming 'electric highway'.

"In recent times there has been quite a bit of noise about this plan. Now the noise is getting louder - many companies are committing to the strategy.

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"Corporate NZ is taking a stance, with more than 30 well-known companies pledging to have EVs comprising at least 30 per cent of their vehicle fleets by 2019.

"So there's now a real drive to make the change to EVs - and our intention is to be a part of it all."

Two hybrid versions of the Ioniq are being introduced; an entry model priced at $46,990 which is about $1000 less than an equivalent Toyota Prius, and a higher-specified Elite which enters the market at $52,990.

Powered by a 1.6-litre direct-injected Atkinson Cycle engine mated to a high-efficiency electric motor, the vehicle offers a total of 104kW of power and 265Nm of torque.

The big news is the fully electric model, which arrives at $59,990 for an entry model and $65,990 for an Elite - prices well below the likes of the BMW i3 and the Renault Zoe, both of which have retail prices into the $70,000s.

This car, which is easily distinguishable from the hybrid model because its lack of an internal combustion engine means it can have a solid frontal design rather than a grille, offers 88kW of power and 295Nm of torque.

Billman told journalists the new Ioniq EV offers real potential for two major reasons - its entry price point is below $60,000, and its range on a full charge is up to 200km, which is easily enough for the average daily commute.

"It's also a conventional-looking car, largely fit for purpose," he said. "As a result we have unprecedented feedback from fleet customers. I can't remember such positive feedback before."

 - Stuff

Source: Hyundai Ioniq looks set to spark up the Kiwi electric vehicle market