Used Hyundai Kona Electric: battery health, range and replacement cost

Electric Revs (2018, details supplied by Hyundai)

Quote: The cells in the Kona Electric are made by LG and use a cathode chemistry known as NMC 622

Open EV Data entry: Hyundai Kona Electric 64 kWh (2021); market not stated in the dataset

Record: id=d405e843-fe80-4de9-ac30-bbaeb2f44e42 usable_battery_size=64

EPA record 43747: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric; this 2021 rating is shown for 2019-2023, whose EPA ratings are within 2% (range) and 5% (efficiency) of it

Record: id=43747 range=258

EPA record 43747: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric; this 2021 rating is shown for 2019-2023, whose EPA ratings are within 2% (range) and 5% (efficiency) of it

Record: id=43747 combE=27

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh)

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: AVILOO's report on 500,000+ battery tests (2022-2026) puts the Kona's median health above 92% at 150,000 km. At about 19,000 km (12,000 miles) a year, 150,000 km is about 7.5-8 years, so under 8% loss is about 1%/yr. A smaller Carla/AVILOO Sweden sample (97.18% at 100,000 km, 64 kWh) suggests less, but likely includes packs replaced new under the 2020-2021 recall, so the larger and more cautious figure is used. Neither source gives health by age, so the yearly rate depends on the assumed mileage.

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh)

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: Our calculation: 100% minus 1% a year (the wear rate above), never below 50%.

2020 Kona Electric 64 kWh (single car, best of 20)

Quote: The best-performing electric car in the NAF group test was the Hyundai Kona Electric, which came just 9% short of its WLTP-rated range.

Hyundai global Kona pack-replacement recall: ~$900M / ~82,000 vehicles

How we got this: GCR (2021): the global ~82,000-vehicle pack-replacement recall was expected to cost $900 million, i.e. roughly $11,000 per vehicle (pack + labour, manufacturer cost). No published Hyundai retail price for the 64 kWh pack found; third-party guides range $6,000-$12,000+.

US MY2020-2023 Kona Electric. MY2019 is an exception: lifetime battery coverage for the original owner, but 10 years/100,000 miles for subsequent owners.

Quote: Starting with 2020MY vehicles: the hybrid/electric battery warranty coverage period for both original and subsequent owners is 10 years from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Electric Revs (2018, details supplied by Hyundai)

Quote: The cells in the Kona Electric are made by LG and use a cathode chemistry known as NMC 622

Open EV Data entry: Hyundai Kona Electric 64 kWh (2021); market not stated in the dataset

Record: id=d405e843-fe80-4de9-ac30-bbaeb2f44e42 usable_battery_size=64

Hyundai UK press release (2021 New KONA Electric)

Quote: or the 64kWh with 204PS and a range of 300 miles

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh)

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: AVILOO's report on 500,000+ battery tests (2022-2026) puts the Kona's median health above 92% at 150,000 km. At about 19,000 km (12,000 miles) a year, 150,000 km is about 7.5-8 years, so under 8% loss is about 1%/yr. A smaller Carla/AVILOO Sweden sample (97.18% at 100,000 km, 64 kWh) suggests less, but likely includes packs replaced new under the 2020-2021 recall, so the larger and more cautious figure is used. Neither source gives health by age, so the yearly rate depends on the assumed mileage.

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh)

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: Our calculation: 100% minus 1% a year (the wear rate above), never below 50%.

2020 Kona Electric 64 kWh (single car, best of 20)

Quote: The best-performing electric car in the NAF group test was the Hyundai Kona Electric, which came just 9% short of its WLTP-rated range.

US recall-program average converted to GBP (not a UK quote)

How we got this: No UK dealer quote found (a BookMyGarage UK page could not be fetched to verify). Converted the ~$11,000 per-vehicle recall cost at ~0.75 GBP/USD and rounded (~£8,000). Treat as order-of-magnitude.

UK Kona Electric. Pre-20MY cars receive 8 years/125,000 miles; 20MY onward receive 8 years/100,000 miles. No numeric capacity percentage appears in the terms.

Quote: The high voltage (lithium-ion polymer) battery warranty covers a minimum capacity for a period of 8 years or 125,000 miles (for existing production models first produced prior to 2020) and a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles (for Kona EV 20MY and all new production models first produced after 2020)

Electric Revs (2018)

How we got this: Electric Revs states Kona Electric cells are LG NMC 622; the article describes the 64 kWh pack. The 39.2 kWh pack is the same LG pouch-cell family with fewer cells; no 39 kWh-specific chemistry statement found, so NMC is inferred.

Open EV Data entry: Hyundai Kona Electric 39 kWh (2021); market not stated in the dataset

Record: id=7a8b44ba-f0d4-4b51-930f-074a66e0cbac usable_battery_size=39.2

Hyundai UK press release (2021 New KONA Electric)

Quote: a 39.2kWh with 136PS and a range of 189 miles

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh); not measured for the 39 kWh pack

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: AVILOO's report on 500,000+ battery tests (2022-2026) puts the Kona's median health above 92% at 150,000 km. At about 19,000 km (12,000 miles) a year, 150,000 km is about 7.5-8 years, so under 8% loss is about 1%/yr. A smaller Carla/AVILOO Sweden sample (97.18% at 100,000 km, 64 kWh) suggests less, but likely includes packs replaced new under the 2020-2021 recall, so the larger and more cautious figure is used. Neither source gives health by age, so the yearly rate depends on the assumed mileage. No study measures the 39 kWh pack; the 64 kWh figure is used. A smaller pack does more charge cycles per mile, so its wear may be higher.

Hyundai Kona EV, median of AVILOO tests at 150,000 km (pack not stated; most are 64 kWh); not measured for the 39 kWh pack

Quote: At 150,000 km (93,000 miles), the Mercedes-Benz EQA comes out on top among the 20 models … The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge round out the top five, with both retaining more than 92% of their median battery health at the same mileage.

How we got this: Our calculation: 100% minus 1% a year (the wear rate above), never below 50%.

2020 Kona Electric 64 kWh (applied to 39 kWh)

Quote: The best-performing electric car in the NAF group test was the Hyundai Kona Electric, which came just 9% short of its WLTP-rated range.

How we got this: Only the 64 kWh car was tested (9% short of WLTP, best of 20 cars); applied to the 39 kWh car.

Average per-vehicle cost of Hyundai's 2021 global battery-system replacement recall (mostly 2018–2020 Kona Electric, 39/64 kWh), converted to GBP.

How we got this: City A.M., 24 Feb 2021: Hyundai would replace battery systems in 82,000 EVs; 'The move will cost around $900m and mostly concerns the Kona EV'. $900m / 82,000 vehicles = about $10,976 per vehicle, divided by 1.4103 USD per GBP (Bank of England XUDLUSS daily spot rate, 24 Feb 2021, https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/boeapps/database/_iadb-fromshowcolumns.asp?csv.x=yes&Datefrom=20/Feb/2021&Dateto=28/Feb/2021&SeriesCodes=XUDLUSS&CSVF=TN&UsingCodes=Y&VPD=Y&VFD=N) = about GBP 7,783. Caveats: a manufacturer's average recall provision, not a consumer price; it mixes 39 kWh and 64 kWh Konas plus some Ioniq EVs and buses, and it includes labour and logistics at OEM internal cost. Treat as order of magnitude only. No UK pound replacement price for a 39 kWh Kona pack from a dealer, UK press or UK specialist was found.

UK Kona Electric regardless of battery size. Pre-20MY cars receive 125,000 miles; 20MY onward receive 100,000 miles.

Quote: The high voltage (lithium-ion polymer) battery warranty covers a minimum capacity for a period of 8 years or 125,000 miles (for existing production models first produced prior to 2020) and a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles (for Kona EV 20MY and all new production models first produced after 2020)