[Hawk4]

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

Yes, this was as per the invoice few owners have seen at the time of battery replacement.

Thanks. My Kona went for first free service at 1500km and I checked with ASS and confirmed prices of few spares.

Battery cost is around 11.9L
Front bumper is 15k
Side mirror assembly 20k

The spares prices are very high compared to Creta from similar segment. This must be due to CKD and no common parts shared with locally made versions like Nexon, MG Astor.

[idlethread]

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

Yes, Kona has a dedicated separate meter with different tariff. Currently at Rs 8.5 flat rate here in Pune. Each fast charger provider have their own app so easy to keep track of usage and you also get GST invoice with all the details.

Did you have to request the separate meter from MSEB? Or did your charger installer do this for you?

I have solar panels attached to the grid, so I'll only be paying for power beyond what my panels produce. I wonder if a flat charge will be better.

[ADI7YAK]

Originally Posted by idlethread

Did you have to request the separate meter from MSEB? Or did your charger installer do this for you?

I have solar panels attached to the grid, so I'll only be paying for power beyond what my panels produce. I wonder if a flat charge will be better.

I had to apply on MSEDCL website. No request (even materially, if you know what I mean) it’s just that they took around 2 months to get it done.

[drtjm]

How do you clean the dust from the engine room? Is water waash permited as all items are IP68?

[sheelRP]

Avoid water splash with all electrical parts though they are splash proof..better to get it air sprayed..I do it for my Kona.

[DRPSREDDY]

Originally Posted by Hawk4

Congratulations for reaching this new milestone in just 26 months. Your car will reach 160000 kms at this rate in another 12 to 15 months. We need to see how the battery performs after the warranty has expired

Typically LPF batteries should last atleast 3000-3500 cycles of charging and NMC batteries in XUV400 are said to last 1500-2000 cycles. So, that way you calculate 1500 cycles for an NMC battery, each charge delivering for 250 kms average, should last for 3,50,000 [THREE LAKH FIFTY THOUSAND] kms.

We assume the battery holds up 70% of the level of charge, by then in Indian Road conditions, the car's chassis will not hold up including some of the electrical components that power the car. LPF batteries should hold almost double, i.e., 7,00,000 [SEVEN LAKH] kms.

So I think we need to worry less about the battery and think more about the life of the car itself....

[raghunathi]

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

As I said it would require a whole another thread but I’ll try and compile one. .......

... snip ....

If my memory serves me right, there was no to minimal range loss. Here’s a picture from my early morning Pune to Mumbai drive. Do note a slight 20km drop in range attributed to my driving style on the expressway. Car constantly updates the range according to driving style, AC fan speed and temperature, drive mode, etc

Attachment 2318541


Thanks! Yes indeed I take it on a lot of roadtrips. In fact car is regularly seen at Horniman Circle in Mumbai on Sundays.

Thanks for your detailed review on the Kona. You mentioned you do Pune Mumbai regularly. Would you do a Pune-Chembur-Pune (280km) with 2 passengers with AC on a single charge ? I ask specifically since the return is also uphill.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

@ADI7YAK

Originally Posted by raghunathi

Would you do a Pune-Chembur-Pune (280km) with 2 passengers with AC on a single charge ? I ask specifically since the return is also uphill.

If possible, Please also share some more info like ODO readings, elevation & efficiency.
As there is very limited info on the EV characteristics with elevation changes. Your experience would definitely provide a lot of info and not all of us are from Pune .
If you can share the figures it can help us similarly extrapolate for some similar hill drives.
I have been trying to figure out myself - example of a recent Chengannur-Thenamala trip
Starting maintaining Odo& Efficiency figures for one of the trip.
Note: Efficiency is not the one on Kona's MID (11.5km/KWh) which takes only motor consumption to give KM/KWh. I have taken overall ODO reading divided by battery drained (10.43km/KWh).

[ADI7YAK]

Originally Posted by raghunathi

You mentioned you do Pune Mumbai regularly. Would you do a Pune-Chembur-Pune (280km) with 2 passengers with AC on a single charge ? I ask specifically since the return is also uphill.

Thanks! I always charge at Mumbai since there are so many chargers available. It doesn't make sense to drive slow, for example, at 80 and come back in a single charge, since time spent on charging is almost always less than time wasted by driving slow. I charge for around 30 minutes upto 80% state of charge at any 50kW capacity charger in Mumbai and get back home comfortably.

Originally Posted by EV Fan

If possible, Please also share some more info like ODO readings, elevation & efficiency.
As there is very limited info on the EV characteristics with elevation changes. Your experience would definitely provide a lot of info and not all of us are from Pune .

I haven't checked scientifically, for in my opinion it is not even entirely possible to do so because so many factors like traffic, weather, wind speed, et all can and do affect the range. It is extremely difficult to point out effect on range caused by one factor, that is elevation, but according to my best guess, it takes up around 30-40km extra range while going uphill from Mumbai to Pune. The incline is around 600 meters between Mumbai and Lonavala.

[raghunathi]

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

Thanks! I always charge at Mumbai since there are so many chargers available. .....
...snip.....
I charge for around 30 minutes upto 80% state of charge at any 50kW capacity charger in Mumbai and get back home comfortably.


....snip....
but according to my best guess, it takes up around 30-40km extra range while going uphill from Mumbai to Pune. The incline is around 600 meters between Mumbai and Lonavala.

This helps a lot. Particularly the guesstimate of 30-40km. Practical gut feel numbers are quite valuable. Your review and comments have been very helpful in shaping my plan to move to an EV.

[linuxworld]

Hi @ADI7YAK,

Great post, and the numbers look even more fantastic!

As we are in 2024, Perhaps it is time to post the latest metrics from 2023 and share the overall ownership experience of your Kona?

I have two questions.

1. In June 2022, you mentioned the lack of charging infrastructure in the Konkan region. Do you think it's improved in the last one and a half years? I also stay in Pune, and Konkan is among my top driving regions. Plugshare still shows limited charging points in Konkan, but would love to know your experience and how you managed to drive EV in such areas.
2. It seems you have a dedicated MSEB meter for EV charging. For a monthly charge of 1500km, do you think having a dedicated meter makes sense, or will using a connection from an existing residential meter be better? I fear that MSEB might keep increasing unit rates for EV meters in the future as adoption grows, whereas rates for residential are not likely to change frequently. So borrowing electricity from existing residential meter will make sense, is what I feel. However, I would like to hear your opinion.

Originally Posted by ADI7YAK

Crossed the 6 digit number few days back. Here's a quick snapshot of overall expenses. Most recent service costed Rs 2600/-


Attachment 2399419

Attachment 2399420

Attachment 2399421

[ADI7YAK]

Originally Posted by linuxworld

Hi @ADI7YAK,

Great post, and the numbers look even more fantastic!

As we are in 2024, Perhaps it is time to post the latest metrics from 2023 and share the overall ownership experience of your Kona?

Sure! Just compiled the data over this weekend. Car is currently at 142,xxx km on odometer. Here are some statistics.

Total money spent on the car over these 140k km and 39 months, ₹421,518.



Here's a look at home charging statistics. As you can see, the price per unit has gradually increased to double digit per unit.



Here's a look at maintenance expenses.

Originally Posted by linuxworld

I have two questions.

1. In June 2022, you mentioned the lack of charging infrastructure in the Konkan region. Do you think it's improved in the last one and a half years?

Here's a screenshot from PlugShare. Definitely better than what it used to be a couple years back, but also a lot of scope for growth. PlugShare is a must have app for any EV user. It is pretty much a go to app for finding charging points.

Originally Posted by linuxworld

1. It seems you have a dedicated MSEB meter for EV charging. For a monthly charge of 1500km, do you think having a dedicated meter makes sense, or will using a connection from an existing residential meter be better? I fear that MSEB might keep increasing unit rates for EV meters in the future as adoption grows, whereas rates for residential are not likely to change frequently. So borrowing electricity from existing residential meter will make sense, is what I feel. However, I would like to hear your opinion.

I think it depends on your current domestic electricity usage. EV specific connection comes with a flat rate, as compared to slab rates for domestic connection. For 1500km monthly use, assuming Kona's battery of 39.2kWh + 5% heat loss, we'd have to take around 41 units for a full charge. Also assuming 8.5km/kWh (modest estimate) you would consume around 176 units a month. If this addition of 176 units is going to put your overall consumption into highest or second highest slab, I would suggest going for a dedicated meter. Rates for dedicated meter have also gotten quite expensive but it's due to wheeling charges and taxes and can change. The official base rate still remains Rs. 7.5/unit as far as I'm aware.

[SKC-auto]

So, your first set of tyres lasted for 48K kms, second set of tyres lasted for 60K kms. This clearly shows that tyres last longer on EVs, also the concern about increased tyre wear due to weight of EVs is just false.

[RoadSurfer]

Rs 1.3 per km is just wonderful. How do you foresee costs related to battery in coming years? Is it still holding in well and what is the cost if one would have to get a new one.

[madhusudhan7]

Thanks to all the good people of the forum and specially this thread. We finally decided that Kona is the car we need for our family.

After much contemplation, we finally booked Kona yesterday after a very thorough test drive, thanks to the nice SA (Sales Advisor) who let us roll for almost an hour. I test drove a couple of other cars and spent a good deal of time in researching our various options besides the usual 'why electric and how do we manage with one' but more on that and my overall delivery experience later.

My only main concern at the moment is that we are getting Kona for an 'On Road' price of 20 Lakhs at Bangalore. This includes Insurance for 1 year (Bumper to Bumper) + 2 year (3rd Party) and Standard Accessories.
I enquired about the 'On Road' price for Kona last month and it was around 25.48L for the all white color, with dual tone would have cost 20k more. I've read that people paid around 24L last year, raising the question of why are we getting such heavy discounts. The only major commitment we gave to our SA is that we will make the complete payment via bank transfers at our earliest convience without the need for any loans or additional time. I even paid a booking advance of 5L based on the assurance the vehicle will be ready for PDI in a little over a week from now.

One of the most basic thing I've learnt in life is 'If it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true', with that in mind I tried to get as much as information from the SA to ensure that this isn't some demo or test drive vehicle or an older model. Below are the most important points:
- Confirmed the vehicle will have a 2024 VIN.
- Will be assembled at their Chennai factory after we place the order and nothing changes if we choose a different colour. The car will be ready for PDI around 12-14th February.
- While we finalized the deal with Blue Hyundai eventually, I did talk to people at Trident over phone and they also quoted around 21.8L as the all inclusive 'On Road' price. Blue Hyundai quoted 21.2L initially and negotiations brought it down to 20L final.

The only reasonable explanation we got from the SA is that Karnataka RTO has plans to implement Road Tax for electric vehicles soon and so they want to sell as many units as possible before that. I could not verify this claim through online search or otherwise. This didn't sound very convincing for the kind of discount offered.

As a precaution, I got the SA to send an email confirmation for the price and what's included from their offical email ID, which he happily did without any hesitation.

The help I request from the experts of this forum is what else can I do to prevent any unlikely issues through the whole process. I'm not referring to PDI checklist or the usuals before taking delivery of the car itself but more so on the price point. Or am I simply worrying too much and should just chill.