melb-syd-melb (via Canberra) in a Kona

[Bryce]

Hi all - decided to put test the Kona electric's interstate travel credentials by driving Melb to Sydney for this week's EV conference there. Must say the experience has been fantastic so far. Just be nice to do more top-ups to 80% rather than the obligatory 100% charge/1 hr extra wait at Albury to cover the DC charge desert to Canberra. (Holbrook should be open today, so might be perfect for 80% quickest charges for return trip
Will report more for return run on Wed.
Stats on run to Canberra below. (BTW: kWh/100km rates all in in 'comfort' mode - only that day was trying 'eco' mode for first time. Plus top line was Sat trip to Canberra: did not sparing the horses on trip up-was running at 110km/hr most of way).
Cheers
Bryce

[jonescg]

It's a very efficient car for an SUV. I'm amazed you got out of the car at all

[antiscab]

have you had a chance to measure kwh in on recharge?
I'd be interested to see how it would compare

[doggy]

Very nice. It must be great to have 64kWhrs under the hood and the option of 70kW charging.
Cheers,
Dave

[Bryce]

Did return trip Tues evening to Canberra, then Canberra to Melb Wednesday. Amazing car! With Holbrook now open I could also avoid the paying EVSE in Albury too. (MANY thanks to Albury council for making it available though. ).
Basic stats: left Canberra 6.30am, stops: Holbrook, Barnawartha and short pit stop in Euroa. Hit Melb ring road 4pm. (The less said of the bad wet-weather Melb drivers after that the better!).
Will post pic of economy figures tomorow.
Fantastic to be fully de-ICE'd.
Now for EV Long-Weekend Tour around Vic starting Sept 15. (Part of Vic EV Week Sept 14-21).
Cheers
Bryce

[Chuq]

Jugiong (NRMA) is now open as well! Just wait until Chargefox and Evie got the ball rolling and then Mel-Syd will be a breeze in almost any EV!

[Bryce]

Hi all - economy screen-shot from Kona below.
From the top:
Top line: return trip Canberra - Melb. 110km/h, heater on most of way. (3 degrees as I left)
Second: Syd - Canberra in evening. 110km/h most of way, heater on most of way
Third: Canberra - Syd. 110km/h most of way, no heater
Fourth: Melb - Canberra. 110km/h most of way, heater for about 1/3 of time
Last line: suburban driving in Melb.

20190830_170709.jpg (1.72 MiB) Viewed 667 times

Cheers
Bryce

[doggy]

Hi Bryce, very useful- thanks!
I am particularly interested in Sydney-Canberra. My 41kWHr Zoe cannot make it at 110km/hr and this is not helped by the fact that I am at sea level a fair way North, so more like 315km. Also, Sydney-Canberra is uphill but reverse is downhill and this is very evident in your figures of 42.8kWHrs Canb-Syd and 50.7kWHrs uphill, which means a new Zoe with 51kWHrs MIGHT just squeeze it in uphill but definitely should downhill. This fits with my experience of only a smallish recharge on the way from Canb-Sydney but bigger Syd-Canberra.

Questions:

1. Is the Kona heater reverse cycle (heat pump)? I assume so given it is a very recent car.
2. I assume you did not recharge either direction Syd/Canb given that big 64kWHr battery?
3. Is the Kona battery temperature controlled? If so, by heat pump?

Cheers,
Dave

[EVdownUnder]

Hi Dave,
1. Unfortunately the Kona does not have a heat pump in Australia even though the same car has it in many other countries.
3. As far as I know the Australian Kona's battery is liquid cooled only. The US version is cooled only, the Canadian version is cooled or heated. I will ask the tech guys on Friday when I collect my Highlander. Very excited...
Cheers,
Patrick

[doggy]

I'm planning a Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne-Sydney trip in our Zoe.

Definitely do-able but not as easy as by Kona with DC charging and 60% bigger battery. Wodonga to Melbourne is the most tricky part. Also 22kW AC charging is fairly sparse South of the border.

Regards,
Dave