Old screens, old light show, outdated design

I don’t review all the cars I drive. Not all of them are equally urgent in utility or entertainment value, but it’s my job to keep up. For example, outside the spotlight, I periodically fill the gaps in the test drive resume. Last month I did that with the Hyundai Kona Hybrid. It has been there since 2019. In the evolutionary pace of fashion, that is prehistory: old screens, old light show at the front and back, old design. So it didn’t necessarily have to be in the newspaper. But along the way I made a curious discovery that surprisingly updated the little car. It is a super economical Korean. With me, the on-board computer gave a spectacular average of 1 to 22.2 after a week full of quiet regional traffic, but including the long highway journey from importer to home.

Then you count. The fuel prices are daily rates, but this is where I fill up when we speak the car full for 1.94 euros per liter. For 100 kilometers I end up with 4.5 liters of E10. Those will cost me 8 euros 73. With that, no but, the time is over when I laughed at everyone with my electric BMW. Because if that consumes 15 kWh per 100 kilometers, the rapidly rising energy prices will bring me seriously close to the amount that I pay at the pump with a hybrid Kona.

The prices per kWh differ greatly, but an average of 50 cents is now realistic for the plug driver who, in addition to at home, also taps power at ‘cheap’ public charging stations and fast chargers that are more than twice as expensive. Then you are already at 7.50 euros per 100 kilometers for my i3 – and rising. If my consumption rises to 17 or 18 kWh in the winter, the hybrid Kona will be just as expensive as my BMW. We EV drivers have never eaten the soup this hot before.

comeback

Of course, as an EV driver, I enjoy the plug privilege without prejudice to the other emoluments. No road tax until 2025, minimal maintenance costs. In addition, given the future demand for and the limited supply of used electric vehicles, depreciation will probably be modest, on which any loss of capacity of the battery will probably have a minor influence. But the economic advantage of the plug-in car is rapidly diminishing due to the bizarre geopolitical situation, including at Hyundai. A Kona Hybrid is available from 31,000 euros, the cheapest electric Kona with the small 39 kWh battery costs 6,000 more. Whoa, wait a minute: it’s not available. The chip shortage, the raw materials, you get the idea. The only electric Kona that you can order right now is the most expensive, 47,000 euros. With the large 64 kWh battery, more power and a much larger range. But for that money, private individuals will no longer be eligible for the 2,950 euro government subsidy on EVs in 2023, which after all applies to plug-in cars up to a maximum of 45,000 euros. In short, the hybrids could make a great comeback in the short term. In an aging country, the less change-oriented seniors, and seniors is another word for people who can still buy new cars, don’t feel like chilling at the charging station anyway. On the other hand, they might have taken the risk if electric driving had been structurally cheaper. This turned out to be the most effective strategy to win over advantage hunters and slackers. Addition benefit and purchase subsidy proved their purpose. Now that both are being phased out, how do you want to enthuse the masses for electric cars that the majority of buyers cannot afford even with tax concessions? Electric driving must remain substantially more attractive for the time being in the sustainability process.

Unfortunately, EVs are now rapidly becoming more expensive and delivery times are escalating. You have to wait up to nine months for popular models such as the Kia EV6. With a recession approaching, the market position of electric cars is deteriorating dramatically and there is no solution for this for the time being.

Well, the compromise of the hybrid. Sure, gasoline prices can rise dramatically again, but then electricity prices will rise just as fast. And it’s a nice little car, that Kona. In my crystal ball I see the market shares per model for next year shifting considerably. Maybe even the crazy Prius will make a comeback. It is even more economical than the Hyundai. And you know what? The hybrid Kona’tje is available soon. Without subsidy, that’s right. But you can negotiate that 2,950 euros out. The dealer craves customers.