What Is Regenerative Braking In Electric Cars: The Basics
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the newsletter The Hyundai INSTER…
Read MoreElectric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the newsletter The Hyundai INSTER... The post The All-Electric Hyundai INSTER (SUV): The Complete Guide For India appeared first on Ezoomed.
Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The Hyundai INSTER Electric SUV
The Hyundai Motor Company, usually referred to simply as Hyundai, is a leading South Korean automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul. The company was founded in 1967, with its first model, the Cortina (in collaboration with Ford Motor Company), launched in 1968. The Cortina was assembled in the Ulsan plant in South Korea. Hyundai has come a long way since then, and currently owns a 33.88% stake in Kia Corporation, and also wholly owns the luxury automotive brand, Genesis, among others.
Hyundai has an annual production capacity of over 1.6 million units, making the automotive manufacturer the third-largest in terms of production behind the Japanese automotive manufacturer, Toyota and the German automotive group, Volkswagen. Hyundai has production facilities across a number of global locations. Some of these include: North America, India, Russia, Turkey, China and the Czech republic. Hyundai vehicles are sold in nearly 200 countries globally. The company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):
- All-electric Hyundai IONIQ
- All-electric Hyundai Kona
- All-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5
- All-electric Hyundai IONIQ 6
- All-electric Hyundai Inster
- Hyundai IONIQ Plug-In Hybrid
- Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid
- Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
The trend in launching SUVs, in particular, compact all-electric SUVs continues unabated. The all-electric sub-compact Hyundai Inster SUV is an excellent example. Some may prefer categorising this A-Segment electric vehicle (EV) as a hatchback, but Hyundai markets it as a SUV. It is not the first, nor will it be the last automotive manufacturer to adopt such a marketing strategy.
For those families keen on a compact SUV family electric car, the other options worth consideration are: Citroën ë-C3, Ford Capri, MG4 EV and the Kia EV3. We at e-zoomed encourage those living in cities and towns to opt for a compact vehicle, instead of a larger vehicle. So many advantages: easy to drive, easy to park, lower cost of lifetime ownership and lower life-cycle emissions.
The genesis of the five-door Inster BEV is from the Hyundai Casper crossover SUV, sold only in South Korea. The petrol-powered Casper was revealed in September 2021. Both the Casper and Inster are targeted at the urban driver i.e. a city cars, with the Inster having a longer wheelbase (2.58m) compared to the Casper (2.40m). The pure electric Hyundai Inster was launched in June 2024 at the Busan International Mobility Show (South Korea). According to the company, the name is derived from ‘intimate’ and ‘innovative’. It certainly seems to be both!
In terms of onboard equipment and technology, the battery-electric city SUV has much to offer. As standard, the BEV incorporates: EV heat pump, keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 10.25″ touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital cluster, cruise control and more. Also, as standard are a number of safety features: highway drive assist, lane following assist, rear view monitor, parking sensors (rear), forward collision avoidance assist, manual speed limit assist, intelligent speed limit assist and driver status monitor. The EV is yet to be awarded the Euro NCAP Safety Rating. There is an option for vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional capability, perfect for charging electrical devices on the go.
The Inster EV is available in two EV battery sizes: the entry-level 42 kWh (266 V), and the 49 kWh (310 V) long range. However, we are perplexed by this, as the difference in electric range between the two options is marginal. According to Hyundai, the 42 kWh has a 300 km (WLTP) range, while the 49 kWh has a 355 km (WLTP) e-range.
Adjusting for real-world driving conditions, you can expect the 42 kWh to achieve up to 260 km on a single charge, and for the 49 kWh expect up to 310 km. In any case, both options offer more than adequate electric range for most day-to-day driving needs in a city, and also for motorway driving. All variants offer up to 120 kW DC rapid charging as standard, more than sufficient, given the battery sizes for this EV (10%-80%: 30 minutes). At 50 kW DC charging it will take 58 minutes to achieve an 80% charge.
The Inster incorporates as standard a three-phase (11 kW AC) onboard AC charger. For homes and business with access to three-phase power supply, the 42 kWh can be charged from 0%-100% in 4 hours, and for the 49 kWh it will take up to 4 hours 35 minutes for a full charge. Single-phase EV charging will take longer. We at e-zoomed encourage EV owners to install on-site (home or business) solar PV and battery storage. It is a fantastic way to leverage the potential for lower cost of ownership of an electric car, and also achieve ‘well-to-wheel’ zero-tailpipe emissions.
The interior uses sustainable materials. An approach that is now commonplace among global automotive manufacturers. The Inster electric incorporates recycled paint, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane. The four-seat Inster is the smallest Hyundai electric vehicle. According to the manufacturer, “The INSTER is positioned between traditional A-segment city cars and larger B-segment models’.
The Inster BEV is 3.82m long and 1.57m tall. In comparison, the all-electric compact Kia EV3 is 4.3m long and 1.57m tall. The Inster has a 238 L boot, which can be expanded up to 351 L with the sliding rear seats (the rear seats can be moved forward by 16cm). If the seats are folded flat, the capacity increases to 1,059 L. All seats in the EV can be folded flat, to include the driver’s seat! The second row seats can also be reclined.
Despite the sub-compact body, the Inster electric does feel spacious, with ample headroom and legroom. The flat floor and higher SUV roof does the trick! The Inster does not have a frunk. As for the exterior styling, we have mixed feelings. The front is certainly cute, to include the LED daytime running lights, but we are not so fond of the side view. We leave it to you to decide!
All variants are front-wheel drive (FWD), with a single-motor powertrain i.e. the electric motor drives the front wheels. The entry-level Inster (42 kWh) can achieve 0-100 km/h in 11.7 seconds (maximum power: 97 ps/ torque: 147 Nm), while the longer range Inster (49 kWh) can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds (maximum power: 115 ps/ torque: 147 Nm). The top speed of the electric car is 150 km/h. For the driver there is good all-round visibility, to include the rear-view. The manufacturer has plans to offer in due course, the Inster Cross, a more rugged looking variant for outdoor excursions!
The Inster BEV is certainly an affordable electric car. “Good things come in small packages”, certainly hold true for the all-electric Hyundai Inster. Company car drivers can also take advantage of the pure electric car. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Decent electric range and 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard | Exterior styling like Marmite, love it or hate it! |
| Loads of technology and equipment as standard (heat pump as standard) | Only four seats |
| Value for money/ affordable | Small boot/ no frunk |
Gallery
The Hyundai INSTER Electric SUV (credit: Hyundai)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In India: | No |
| Trims (2 Options) |
|---|
| Hyundai Inster Signature 42kW (from ₹ N/A) |
| Hyundai Inster Elegance 49kW (from ₹ N/A) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion Polymer |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in two battery sizes: 42 kWh/ 49 kWh |
| Charging: | 120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 0 mins/ 4 hrs 35 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| EV Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1575 |
| Width (mm): | 1610 |
| Length (mm): | 3825 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2580 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.6 |
| Boot Capacity (L): | 238 (up to 351 L with sliding rear seats) |
| Frunk (L): | N/A |
| Standard range 42 kWh | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 42 kWh |
| Electric Range (WLTP): | 300 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 14.3 – 15.3 |
| Charging: | 120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 0 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 140 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h | 11.7 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 71.1 |
| Max Power (PS): | 97 |
| Torque (Nm): | 147 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 4 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,305 – 1,393 |
| Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg): | N/A |
| Colours: | 9 |
| Euro NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| Long range 49 kWh | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 49 kWh |
| Electric Range (WLTP): | 355 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 14.3 – 15.3 |
| Charging: | 120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 35 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 150 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h | 10.6 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 85 |
| Max Power (PS): | 115 |
| Torque (Nm): | 147 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 4 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,335 – 1,423 |
| Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg): | N/A |
| Colours: | 9 |
| Euro NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Used Electric Cars: Top Tips
The growth in electric driving in India has been unabated, but not surprising. Like other international markets, consumers in India (individuals, families and businesses) are seeking environmentally-friendly and cleaner forms of road transportation. Electric driving fits perfectly in the narrative they seek!
We have also witnessed growth in the used electric car market. Five years ago it was challenging to find a reasonable choice of used electric vehicles (EVs), with only a handful of used models available. Today, the narrative could not be more different.
The choice for consumers seeking second-hand electric cars is vast, to include, leading global automotive brands, body types, budgets etc. The used EV market will only continue to grow as consumers continue to become more confident with purchasing new and used electric cars. But of course, as is the case in buying any used product, it is always helpful to have a few helpful tips to avoid costly mistakes!
| Top Tips For Buying A Second-Hand Electric Car |
|---|
| Check the EV real-world range: electric car range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: weather, temperature, road conditions, payload, driving profile and more!. Always take the EV for a test drive, preferably, testing the EV range under as many real-world conditions as possible. |
| Check EV battery performance/ charging/ degradation: in general, an EV battery will degrade 2.3% of maximum capacity a year. |
| Check EV battery warranty: in general, most BEVs have an EV battery warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km. However, PHEVs have a shorter battery warranty profile. Moreover, some of the earlier generation of electric cars offered shorter battery warranty, usually up to 5 years. Also worth checking if the EV battery can be extended, albeit, with an additional payment. |
| Check service/ maintenance history and costs: this applies to all types of cars, to include petrol, diesel and electric cars. If a car does not have a well documented service history, best to avoid it. |
| Buy a used EV with as large a battery as possible, for the given budget: the larger the onboard EV battery, potentially, the longer the electric range. In particular, for those considering buying a used plug-in hybrid car. Only buy a PHEV with a real-world practical range, so that, the benefits of electric driving can be leveraged. |
| Where possible, look for EVs with DC charging capability: in general, most PHEVs do not offer DC charging, while most of the latest BEVs do. It can be the case, that some of the first-generation of electric cars do not offer DC charging capability. So for those keen on buying a used pure electric car, better to identify one with DC charging capability, and preferably 50 kW DC +. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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