Modifications and Tweaks

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by electriceddy, Mar 10, 2019.

To remove this ad click here.

  1. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    I'm of two minds. I drove Priuses for many years and they were perfectly silent when prowling in pure electric. It never seemed to be a problem because I simply assumed pedestrians were not aware of me. Silence in cars is a great advance and this new requirement seems retrograde.

    On the other hand, I'd be wary of the risks in muffling or disabling the system. Insurance, liability, warranty, things like that.
     
  2. To remove this ad click here.

  3. I think you are right, but again since when are politicians from this world? That law was made up by somebody sitting behind a desk, most likely never drove an EV and probably never walks on a grocery parking lot anyways, because they are being chauffeured from door to door and their maid picks up the groceries for them ... just saying ...
     
    Wayne Warde likes this.
  4. Kyle Gish

    Kyle Gish New Member

    I definitely considered this when unplugging it but I also thought that all other EV and Hybrid manufacturers have been making cars without this feature for years. The responsibility always falls on the driver and understanding that the car is essentially silent is something to always keep in mind when cruising through parking lots. My real hesitation is liability if something does happen but at this point, it's not a law(that I know of) that electric vehicles make a noise when traveling slowly.

    Day 2 and it's still no negative side affects of having that module unplugged.
     
    Wayne Warde likes this.
  5. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    Is it difficult to unplug? I could only see two modules one with 8 wires going in and one with only two wires. Is it one of these?
     
  6. CJC

    CJC Well-Known Member

    I have been driving a Plug In Hybrid for years, and I am grateful for the VESS in our Kona. People did not pay attention to cars that are very silent. I find it stressful in busy parking lots driving our PHEV that is so silent as people don't look up at all. They keep walking and texting. With our Kona EV, they are hearing the quiet beep, beep when backing and the VESS sound. I always worried about hitting someone with the electric silence.
     
    Kirk, BC-Doc and electriceddy like this.
  7. To remove this ad click here.

  8. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    Yes, I drove hybrids too and liked the quiet. I watched pedestrians very carefully. Now I hardly drive in parking lots and I wish it would cut out at say 15km. I never drive 25km thru a parking lot. I would prefer a button that would play an engine sound when needed, to warn a pedestrian. I found people still didn’t hear my vess sound now, maybe they don’t recognize it, because it doesn’t sound like an engine.
     
    BC-Doc and Wayne Warde like this.
  9. Kyle Gish

    Kyle Gish New Member

    It has 8 wires and is right in the middle up top. I squeezed my arm in from the passenger side of the engine compartment. It's a tight fit and you have to push the lock release on the connector but it was pretty easy to unplug
     
    Wayne Warde likes this.
  10. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    So I had the right one but I could not squeeze enough to release it. Maybe too much arthritis on my old hands. Could not actually feel any clips. Thanks for the info tho.
     
  11. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    I’m assuming you have American model. My Canadian model plug looks different from yours. Maybe that’s why I can’t unplug it.
     
  12. To remove this ad click here.

  13. I would prefer an adjustable/user config sound when you need it such as a wolf pack (to avoid deer hit issues).
    Not so sure what sound would help with phone zombies.
     
    mho, Mattsburgh and Curlyone like this.
  14. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    I’ll think about that one. Maybe a truck air horn super loud. Would love to try that
     
    electriceddy likes this.
  15. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    It's going to be a strange old world in the parking lots of tomorrow, with every kind of plug-in making its own sound. Oh well, at least there will be fewer of those annoying cars that honk when locked.

    It seems the cut-off point of 30 km/h (according to Wikipedia ) has to do with the speed at which road noise is considered adequate warning.
     
  16. Kitsilano

    Kitsilano Active Member

    Cyclists love VES. Unlike phone zombies, they WANT to hear VES.
     
    Kirk, mho, Wayne Warde and 2 others like this.
  17. Wayne Warde

    Wayne Warde Active Member

    l was a paramedic for a long long time in Vancouver and Victoria and please believe me when I tell you that even with flashing lights and siren screaming and they still step of the sidewalk onto the street just like a zombie. Sad very sad.
     
  18. Oilberta

    Oilberta Member


    Anyone know if a rear "EV" decal is available ? Similar to the country identity decals you [used to ?] see on European cars. Say, about 3"x4" black letters on a white oval. I find the current chrome "electric" badge kind of blah !.
     
  19. CJC

    CJC Well-Known Member

    We live a kilometer from the Peace Arch crossing, and when the tragedy happened with the person being burned to death there this week I was driving when first responders were lights and sirens on heading there. I saw and heard them coming from a couple of blocks away, but of course some *** turned left right in front of a fire truck narrowingly avoiding another tragedy. I can't believe how tuned out people are. I think some of it is from playing very loud music in the cars so they don't hear anything and are not paying attention.
     
  20. Wayne Warde

    Wayne Warde Active Member

    there were times when I had to come to a complete stop because the driver didn't know what to do . You are right that loud music is also a cause but they are all excuses for poor driving skills and a me first way of mind .
     
    Kamloops_KoNa likes this.
  21. Wayne Warde

    Wayne Warde Active Member

    I scratched the paint on the back of the car putting something inside so I got some touch-up paint and some 3M clear plastic strip. This repair/moo I would recommend to anyone before the scratch . It went on so well that even I have a hard time finding the edges. I will post some pictures IMG_20190504_122835.jpg IMG_20190504_122843_1.jpg IMG_20190504_122858.jpg IMG_20190504_122913.jpg IMG_20190504_122929.jpg
     
  22. Was this the official Hyundai accessories bumper film or a custom job? Just wondering if you did it yourself and what the application was like - and the cost. The mark-up on that film must be 100% or more.
     
  23. Wayne Warde

    Wayne Warde Active Member

    I did it myself and I think the cost was about $30.00. All it takes is an exacto knife and a spray bottle of soap and water and a squeegee although I found that just using my fingers was all that I really needed and a healthy dose of patience.
     
    Kamloops_KoNa likes this.

Share This Page