2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 reduce real-world fast-charging time

With the 2023 Ioniq 5 hatchback arriving this fall and the upcoming 2023 Ioniq 6 sedan arriving early subsequent 12 months, Hyundai is introducing a battery preconditioning function that may assist set drivers up for a extra constant expertise at DC fast-charging stations. 

The long-range variations of the Ioniq 5 and the intently associated Kia EV6 have already supplied a few of the quickest charging instances out there in any electrical car, of simply 18 minutes from 10% to 80% on a 350-kw CCS connector. Hyundai has stored to the identical estimate for the Ioniq 6 and its like-sized battery pack.

The fine-print actuality examine of this declare is simply as essential: It’s an excellent that is dependent upon the battery being on the correct temperature vary. As drivers could have skilled within the Ioniq 5 and intently associated Kia EV6, plugging right into a 350-kw connector in these fashions in something lower than fairly heat climate can result in unpredictable charging charges and instances—typically solely serving to emphasise solely that the 150-kw connector is perhaps simply as quick.

Battery Conditioning, because it’s known as right here by Hyundai, is totally different than the Winter Mode these automobiles have had all alongside. Whereas Winter Mode is geared toward warming the battery to enhance efficiency in chilly temperatures, Hyundai emphasizes that Battery Conditioning mode heats the battery as much as the next goal temperature. 

When the motive force units a DC fast-charging station because the vacation spot (or a waypoint), Battery Conditioning mode robotically makes use of additional vitality to warmth up the battery in anticipation of arrival on the charging station, warming the battery over roughly 20 minutes earlier than charging is to start. 

Final month, in prototype variations of the Ioniq 6 sedan, Hyundai was in a position to preview these screens, though we weren’t allowed but to check the cost fee. When it’s preconditioning/heating the battery, the share battery icon within the gauge cluster exhibits a crimson core, and for 4 seconds a message illuminates, stating: “Battery conditioning activated for optimum DC charging.”

To date, not like within the Lucid Air or the GMC Hummer EV (beneath, respectively), to call two different high-power-charging automobiles, there’s no handbook button on the car display, in order that the motive force can merely inform the car they’re going to plug right into a high-power fast-charger in a short while—though Hyundai is planning to have an app-based battery-heating function that may add that performance.

Hyundai has confirmed the U.S. will get the function for 2023, however it hasn’t mentioned whether or not it would probably be enabled on 2022 and earlier fashions with the battery heater. However this previous week Kia Europe dropped extra data on it and the way it is perhaps deployed to present fashions. Kia mentioned that for the European market it’ll even be commonplace on 2023 fashions, together with the EV6, EV6 GT, and Niro EV, whereas it is going to be an “elective retrofit” on 2022 EV6 fashions, to be accomplished as a dealer-installed software program improve. 

With that, Kia mentioned that the Battery Conditioning function can unlock a 50% enchancment in cost time—from 35 minutes with out it in less-than-ideal temps, to the claimed 18 minutes. The Kia function requires a state of cost 24% or increased and a battery temperature beneath 70 levels F to activate. 

Kia USA has not but responded to requests from Inexperienced Automobile Studies for particulars on how this improve will likely be supplied within the U.S., and whether or not, because the Ioniq 5 and 6, it is going to be added to the American-market options listing for 2023.

Hyundai hints that the interface is evolving and, with higher-volume fashions, just like the upcoming Ioniq 7 SUV, is probably going for U.S. meeting and due right here in higher numbers, it desires to get the interface proper. Whereas these fashions’ fast-charging instances themselves had been an achievement, making them straightforward to entry will likely be one more.