With 2023 Ioniq 5 hatchback coming this fall and coming 2023 Ioniq 6 sedan Coming early next year, Hyundai will introduce a battery pre-conditioning feature that will help drivers have a more consistent experience at DC fast charging stations.
Long-range versions of Ioniq 5 and closely related versions Kia EV6 provided some of the fastest charge times available in any electric vehicle, in just 18 minutes from 10% to 80% on a 350 kw CCS connector. Hyundai has kept the same estimate for the Ioniq 6 and its similarly sized battery pack.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 fast charging – Lacey, WA
The fine-print fact-checking of this claim is also important: It’s ideal depending on the battery being in the proper temperature range. As motorists may have experienced in the Ioniq 5 and the closely related Kia EV6, plugging in the 350 kW connector in these models in any condition less than fairly warm weather can lead to to unpredictable charging speeds and times — sometimes just for the sake of emphasizing that 150 kw connector can be equally fast.
Battery Air Conditioning, as it is called here by Hyundai, is different from the Winter Mode these cars have had so far. While Winter Mode aims to warm the battery to improve performance in cold temperatures, Hyundai emphasizes that Battery Conditioning mode will heat the battery up to a higher target temperature.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 – Battery-powered air conditioning feature
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 – Battery-powered air conditioning feature
When the driver sets the DC fast charging station as a destination (or reference point), Battery Conditioning mode automatically uses the additional power to preheat the battery before reaching the charging station, warming the battery for about 20 minutes before when charging. to begin.
Last month, in a prototype version of the Ioniq 6 sedan, Hyundai was able to preview these screens, although we haven’t been allowed to check the fee yet. When preconditioning/heating the battery, the battery percentage symbol in the instrument cluster shows a red core, and for four seconds a message lights up, saying: “Battery conditioning activated for optimal DC charging” .
So far, unlike in Lucid Air or GMC Hummer EV (respectively below), to name two other high-energy electric charging vehicles, there is no manual button on the vehicle display, so that drivers can simply indicate the vehicle they will plug into a public fast charger. high capacity. briefly — though Hyundai is planning to include an app-based battery heating feature that could add that functionality.
Lucid Air battery pre-conditioner
Condition before battery 2023 GMC Hummer EV
Condition before battery 2023 GMC Hummer EV
Hyundai has confirmed the feature will be available in the United States in 2023, but it has yet to say if it will likely be enabled on 2022 and earlier models with battery heating. But last week, Kia Europe revealed more information about it and how it could be rolled out to current models. Kia says that for the European market, it will also be standard on 2023 models, including the EV6, EV6 GT and Niro EV, while it will be an “optional retrofit” on EV6 models. 2022, implemented as dealer-installed software. upgrade.
Along with that, Kia says the Battery Conditioning feature can result in a 50% improvement in charging time — from 35 minutes absent in less-than-ideal temperatures, up to the required 18 minutes. The Kia feature requires a charge state of 24% or higher and a battery temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit to activate.
2023 Kia EV6 GT
Kia USA has yet to respond to a request from Green car report for details on how this upgrade will be made available in the US and whether, as the Ioniq 5 and 6, it will be added to the US market feature list in 2023.
Hyundai hints that the interface is evolving and, with higher volume models, as coming Ioniq 7 SUV. While the fast charge times of these models are an achievement in themselves, making them easy to use is another.
