Hyundai's Ioniq 5 is an exciting, new electric car and one of the first to compete strongly against Tesla's Model 3, but how far can it travel on a single charge? It can be a bit frightening to transition to a battery-powered car when accustomed to a gas-powered vehicle with a range that's usually over 300 hundred miles and a tank that can be refilled in minutes from nearly anywhere in the country. All of which makes range very important for electric cars, and recharging time.
Hyundai is among the most prolific electric vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company began experimenting with electric cars in 1991, long before the world was really ready to embrace this technology. Shifting the focus to hybrid gas and electric was a wise move since the hugely popular Toyota Prius was proving to be a successful combination. Pure electric development never truly stopped, however, and production EVs were being mass-produced as early as 2010 for use in Korea.
Hyundai's new Ionic 5 is the culmination of many years of EV manufacturing and its maturity shows. This is a very solid vehicle with an EPA rating between 220 and 303 miles on a single charge, depending on the model selected. At the entry-level, the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range is a rear-wheel-drive model that can travel for up to 220 miles without needing a top up. There are three higher trim levels that each have a 303-mile maximum range for the rear-wheel-drive model. Hyundai also offers an all-wheel-drive option for the Ioniq 5 SE, SEL, and Limited models. In this configuration, the range is 256 miles, still greater than the Standard Range but less than the rear-wheel-drive model.
How Much Range Is Enough?
While the more expensive electric cars are beginning to match the range of gas-powered vehicles, lower-cost models tend to be around 200 miles. This is true of Hyundai's new Ioniq 5 as well, leading to the question of whether that range is sufficient. In truth, most drives around town can be round-tripped while driving well under 100 miles. Some commutes might approach the 200-mile range, which makes it a tough decision of whether the time is right to choose fully electric or go for a hybrid.
Another important factor is charging speed and Hyundai's Ioniq 5 is well equipped in that regard. If its 220-mile range is sufficient to reach most destinations and charging can be done quickly enough for the return journey, no more is needed and a larger, heavier battery would actually reduce efficiency. Hyundai's Ioniq 5 can charge from 10-percent to 90-percent in around 18 minutes, eliminating range concerns as long as a charging station is nearby.
Source: Hyundai