Kona EV Hacking
5 days ago
- #EV Charging Infrastructure
- #Electric Vehicles
- #Hyundai Kona EV
- Purchased a Hyundai Kona EV in August 2019, opting for it over a Tesla due to its comparable range (260 miles, extendable to 300 miles with gentle driving).
- Explored the car's technology and infrastructure, drawing parallels to previous experiences with a Prius, highlighting the balance between advantage and compromise in EV adoption.
- Maintained the Prius for long-haul trips due to the still-developing public charging network, though plans were disrupted by Covid-19.
- Detailed the process of setting up home charging infrastructure and the initial modifications and hacks performed on the Kona EV.
- Encountered and addressed various issues, including tire problems, understanding the 12V auxiliary battery, and running the main battery completely out of energy for research purposes.
- Made several modifications for safety and convenience, such as installing a 'Yuppie Button' and disabling Hyundai's BlueLink telematics system.
- Participated in National Drive Electric Week, showcasing the car in a partially disassembled state to highlight its technology.
- Explored the car's drivetrain and addressed known issues like leaking coolant pumps, alongside other maintenance and modification projects.
- Discussed the challenges of public DC fast charging, including unfair billing practices and the inconvenience of mandatory apps for charger access.
- After the 2019 Kona EV was totaled in a 2021 collision, replaced it with a 2021 model, continuing the EV ownership saga with similar modifications and experiences.
- Acquired a secondary electric vehicle as a backup, facing and overcoming challenges like tire issues and the need for periodic brake maintenance.
- Critiqued the evolving public charging infrastructure, particularly the reliability issues with networks like Blink and the push towards Tesla's NACS connector, emphasizing the drawbacks of app-based access.