Kia says latest trial shows a rear-drive version is capable of 500km-plus … whereas the Hyundai tops at 481km.

MIGHT sibling sparks result from Kia here suggesting one version of a new electric car shared with Hyundai has greater range than the parent’s?

Kia New Zealand, which has previously attested likelihood of having a more powerful version of the EV6 sister ship to Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, says recent homologation shows a rear-wheel-drive ‘Long Range’ EV6 can achieve 528km on a charge.

Ostensibly that’s a handy 47 kilometres above the best range cited for the Ioniq 5, which is just a month from local release.

The range figures come are calibrated on the world light vehicle protocol (WLTP) which is used now by car makers to achieve more relevant economy figures than the previous scale, called NEDC.

It comes down to battery size. Kia’s model runs a 77.4kWh high voltage battery pack with the test citing combined electric energy consumption of 16.5 kWh/100km. The Ioniq in NZ-market specification has a 72kWh battery.

Both cars sit atop a common platform, called the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which Hyundai has created for itself and Kia and both will be capable of 800-volt fast charging.

This underpinning is expected to be used for a variety of models coming from both brands, beyond the sporty-looking, but disparate in design, five-seater hatchbacks that each is kicking off with.

Whereas Hyundai NZ has announced its Ioniq 5 line-up and pricing, Kia NZ plans to keep the equivalent EV6 data under wraps as it does expect to achieve the car until early 2022.

However, Hyundai’s corporate cousin is clearly keen to remind that it will have its own offer and it might well be superior.

Kia NZ managing director Todd McDonald says the EV6’s optimal range will effectively make anxiety a thing of the past.

“A full-charge range in excess of 500km means it’s possible for the EV6 to drive from Queenstown to Christchurch, Wellington to Hamilton or Auckland to Rotorua return.”

He says excitement and anticipation is building ahead of the car’s arrival, as it promises to deliver the very best ownership experience by making the electric lifestyle a viable option for day-to-day mobility.

“The Kia EV6 will remove the perceived barriers that prevent many from making the switch to electric as it provides rapid charging times, impressively long range, segment-leading interior space and can even act as a portable battery pack to charge electrical appliances or other electric vehicles.

“It is loaded with innovative technology and will establish itself as the new flagship of the range as we transition into an engaging and dynamic world of possibilities associated with electric mobility.”

Kia is potentially also going to win the performance dual between the brands if it releases the EV6 locally in an all-wheel-drive GT format Hyundai has yet to equl, but likely one day will through its N programme.

Kia’s special runs a 430kW/740Nm drivetrain able to thrust it to 100kmh from a standing start in 3.5 seconds. Top speed is 260kmh.

Hyundai is set to sell five Ioniq V variants here, across three battery sizes/drive layouts – 58kWh rear-wheel drive, 72kWh rear-wheel drive and 72kWh all-wheel drive – and three trim grades: A base model across all three power options, a mid-spec 72kWh Elite rear-drive and a flagship 72kWh Limited all-wheel-drive.

The highest range Ioniq 5, with 481kms claimed from WLTP testing, is a rear-drive model that has the same specification as the entry $79,990 58kWh model but swaps out that car’s 125kW and 350Nm single motor for an uprated 160kW/350Nm unit paired to a larger 72kWh battery, for a $10,000 premium. The flagship Ioniq 5 is the $109,900 72kWh Limited AWD.

Meantime, first registrations data released for July suggests it was a great month for used and new EV action.

Citing provisional Ministry of Transport figuresm not-for-profit EV support organisation, Drive Electric, says sales of new and used EVs hit 1944 units. Drive Electric chairman Mark Gilbert says this is more than a 1000 units above the previous record month, March of 2021.

“The Clean Car Discount started on 1 July and appears to have driven unprecedented demand for EVs,” he says.

“We will continue to monitor the uptake over the coming months, but early signs are very encouraging, particularly given some importers faced stock shortages.

“Members are telling us that they have never seen consumer interest in electric vehicles quite like it.”

Hits on the Drive Electric website, which independently details EV models available, are also up by tens of thousands, Gilbert attests.