Has software update reduced your Kona Electric range?

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by Domenick, Aug 5, 2020.

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  1. BaylorBob

    BaylorBob Active Member

    I just charged my car again. Instead of Increasing I am Decreasing. This charge was only 306 Miles. I see that I posted I was up to 321 Miles on November 7th. I'm sure I charged my car at least twice since then but I forgot to post the mileage. But in Late December Hyundai installed a 2nd Battery Update. So that is probably why it went down. So why am I letting Hyundai do the battery updates? For two reasons. 1. They scare you by telling you the Batteries are catching on fire, burning up cars and if it is in your garage when this happens it can burn down your house with the car. 2. If you don't do the upgrade and the car, house or people get burned Hyundai will claim they are not liable because I never brought the car in for the battery update. This is especially true when the notice of recall says it is a Safety Issue causing Battery Fires. Also can't complain to Hyundai about the low mileage because the car's EV Range is only about 275 (if I remember correctly). So anything above the rating is a bonus!
     
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  3. The range displayed is a guessed range of the car. It calculates the range based on your latest consumption. So, if your driving with a lead foot, or it's colder outside, the range will indicate less. That is totally normal and range will go up again when it's getting warmer.
    I made a hot and cold weather comparison on a consistent real world drive here:
     
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  4. Good comparison, thanks for the video. I would expect the ~30% loss of range would even be worse given different road conditions (wet or snow) and temperatures below the -5 low threshold in your first cold leg segment . Additionally a slower charge rate as well.
     
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  5. Thank you. Yes, you are correct. There could be way more range loss if conditions would be worse. I kind of liked the comparison because it was basically temperature only. Pretty much all other factors stayed the same.
     
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  6. Just charged my car this morning to 100%, first time ever. Heading out for a hiking trip shortly, so good time to do it. I was at 92% to start, and then about an hour later got a Bluelink charge ended email notification. Checked my phone Bluelink and sure enough at 100% and 452 kms range. So seems even in winter here (west coast Canada) my range is just fine, with all BMS updates done.

    Car also showed 100% and 452 kms when Climate turned off. Drove back from the charging station and noticed that regen was still working, giving me 3 bars down a little hill. Did a SoulEVspy battery cell map when I got home and saw that most of my cell groups were at 4.14, but some were at 4.12, so not all the same. Also, note how the charge tapered down at the end.
    upload_2021-1-22_10-3-33.png

    upload_2021-1-22_10-4-0.png
     
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  8. Can't beat that cost:)
     
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  9. Yup, still have yet to pay for a charge, at home, or elsewhere. Just under 28,000 kms so far. Was out at Harrison today, and they have free chargers there, too, and when I got home just now (after putting on 250 kms), still have 330 kms range. I love free driving...
     
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  10. Same here. I have 6 kw of solar, charge two EV's at home for free and provide power for my house and a rental on the property and haven't paid for electricity since I installed the panels. Gotta love free electricity. Yes the panels cost something to install but they paid for themselves years ago. I generally have about 260 miles (418 km of range). slightly lower in the winter. Just drive the car with heat on and no concerns about driving costs.
     
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  11. I have a small, but adequate solar system at our cabin. Only 1000 watts total, and 4 golf cart 6V batteries. And cheap Chinese charge controllers and inverters. Cheap, but totally does the job for out there. Best thing is, I could do it all myself without the added cost of permits, certified parts/materials and the required pro installers. To do a similar system at home would cost me about 5X as much. And I would need a much larger set-up. I costed it out 2 years ago, and it would have taken 15 to 20 years to pay for itself. We have no subsidies or tax breaks here like you guys down in CA and many other states do. But it is all the red tape requirements that really make it expensive. Our home is actually a perfect solar candidate, with lots of roof area facing south, and in a more sunny area of the Lower Mainland (metro Vancouver). But it is just not feasible.

    Our govts here preach green, but sure don't do much to help us with personal green power production. They only break I got was the govt subsidy for my Kona EV. But the car still cost 10K+ more than its ICE equivalent. Not complaining, as I still much prefer driving an EV. But I can see why the masses aren't yet ready for it, at least on the cost side.

    I am not a fan of wind turbines. Where I live, we don't get much wind, only the occasional fall and winter storms that come through about 5 times a year. I don't like how they pollute the landscape (eyesore), and the sound they make. But sure would like to see more solar panels, everywhere.
     
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  13. navguy12

    navguy12 Well-Known Member

    We installed a 5.7 kW system (two arrays, one facing south and one facing west) back in 2010 and signed a 20 years microFIT contract for selling every kWh we produce directly to the grid (through a separate smart meter).

    Obviously, the electrons do a simple 180 and pass through our consumption smart meter to feed our home/cars.

    Not including opportunity costs, we broke even after nine years.

    Until I bought the TM3 back in 2018, we were net energy producers, providing about 2,000 kWh more to the grid than what we used.

    Now, with two EVs, our system has only been able to inject about 300 kWh into the grid over the past 12 months...

    The same PV system today would cost less than one third what we paid in 2010.
     
  14. Yes, PV panels are getting pretty cheap now, but it is the installation costs that are not. If I could do it myself, like at the cabin, would be a no brainer. We are empty nesters now, in a larger house (4200 sq ft), and the wife and I are talking about downsizing in about 10 years or so. That would make a solar installation at this time even less feasible. BUT if the govts came up with some good subsidies or tax incentives, might still do it.
     
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  15. how do you get this update OTA or is it at the dealership?
     
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  16. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    Even better if you can get DC Fast for free..
    Screenshot_20210123-222441.jpg Screenshot_20210123-222433.jpg
     
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  17. Yep, lots of free DC charge in BC, too,...for now.
     
  18. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    I rarely charge at home at all.. I charged my Kona about 3 times at home since June 2020 and I drove 14000 miles since then.. The posted charges are just DC Fast.. I also charge almost every day on free Level 2 chargers.. I also charge about 100kw per month on free Chargepoint chargers and a lot at our local GreenWise Market (whole foods store with dine in).. My local Hyundai dealer also has a free 40 amp level 2 charger and I use it once in a while..
     
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  19. Updates are strictly applied at the dealer, no OTA available on Kona EV.
    You can check for recall updates using this website:
    https://www.hyundaicanada.com/en/owners-section/recalls
    or simply check at the dealership itself.
    TSBs can be found (using your library card) here at Auto Repair Source:
    https://virl.bc.ca/eresources/autorepairsource/
    or search TSB in this forum as well.
    Judging by your other post you have a 21 model, so likely the only outstanding recall is this one:
    https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/hyundai-kona-ev-recall-199.10072/
    It helps us answer questions if you post the build date found on your drivers door pillar in your profile.
    BTW welcome to the forum, and be sure to post a picture of your Kona EV in the pictures thread:)
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
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  20. thanks, i tried to add my build date but didnt see where, i even changed my location to 2021 kona :p didnt work, ill try that.
     
  21. Personal details/ add build date and model-year to the location box... then save changes at the bottom of the page (highlighted in yellow)
     
  22. There is definitely no add build date on mine.. hmmm maybe because I'm a new user??
     

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