Three New Electric Ute Models Emerge as South Korea Muscles In, Three new electric ute models have recently been announced by South Korean manufacturers, with the industry growing even more competitive. Hyundai has revealed that it will be bringing its third generation of the Ioniq Electric Ute to the local market before the end of 2022, as well as releasing another brand-new vehicle, the Kona Electric Ute, which will be available in two different sizes — large and small — when it launches in 2019. Meanwhile, Kia will soon launch its Niro EV Ute model, which boasts an estimated range of 485 kilometers per charge.
Hyundai’s Kona Electric
Ever since its release, Hyundai’s Kona EV has been a game-changer. If you haven’t already heard, they recently added three new electric ute models. The Hyundai Kona Electric is an all-electric five-door SUV with a range of 242 miles per charge and a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.6 seconds; it also offers quick charging that allows you to drive an additional 50 miles after just 20 minutes on a fast charger—talk about charging quickly! Additionally, drivers can monitor their vehicle’s health via an in-car app while drivers can set up pre-conditioning so that their vehicle is warmed or cooled before they even get inside it.
Why the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment is so important
The LCV segment is a key part of South Korea’s booming auto industry, with each product segment seeing significant growth over recent years. There are signs that each will continue to grow, with global manufacturers having seen an opportunity to increase market share in major markets by capitalizing on consumer trends toward lower-emission vehicles and leveraging their international expertise. While national players including Hyundai and Kia have been key players in recent years, it is foreign companies – particularly from China – that are increasingly looking to cement their presence. Three new electric ute models emerge as South Korea muscles in on domination of developing world markets.
The three new entrants
Hyundai, Kia, and Ssangyong have all unveiled electric utes at recent motor shows. The three Korean makes join a club already containing Chevrolet, Nissan, and Renault. By 2019 there could be more than a dozen models available to buy. So what is a ute? A utility vehicle – or ute – is typically a pickup truck with a tray in place of one or both of its rear seats. To make sure they can carry everything you want to load up on your weekend picnic, utes usually come with bigger wheels, larger engines, and more ground clearance than standard passenger cars.
Ford Ranger ED
Ford Australia has announced plans to introduce a Ranger-based electric ute, called ED (Electric Dipper), that will arrive in 2019. The Ranger ED is based on an existing gasoline model and uses a battery pack positioned between its frame rails. Ford says you’ll be able to drive it for around 180km on a single charge—pretty impressive given it has a payload capacity of 500kg, making it ideal for short-haul work duties like roadside assistance or supply runs. It’s claimed to have a 0–100km/h time of eight seconds, but that figure seems conservative considering how briskly it accelerates in EV mode—something you can’t do with Tesla’s big Model X or Jaguar I-Pace SUVs until next year anyway.
Kia e-Niro
The Kia e-Niro is capable of traveling 288 miles on a single charge, an increase of 31 miles from its predecessor. The car will feature three driving modes: normal, eco, and sport. When in sport mode, drivers can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.8 seconds. The vehicle’s 60-kW battery can be charged to 80 percent within 40 minutes at a 100 kW fast charger. Drivers will be able to purchase a Level 3 home charger that allows for 22 kilowatts of charging power and quick charging when using public chargers. Prices have not yet been announced but it’s expected to sell for less than £55,000 ($77,100). Production begins in November 2022 with the first deliveries scheduled for December 2022.
Leave a Reply