The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been met with an overwhelming response since its release in Australia this week. The fully electric E-SUV, which retails from AU$71,900 for 160kW RWD model or $75,900 for the 225kW AWD model, is already sold out across the country. With 170 people placing orders for the Ioniq 5 as soon as it was made available and 70 pre-ordering ahead of its local debut, all 240 examples currently slated for Australia are spoken for.
Site-crashing demand
Interest in the Ioniq was clearly higher than anticipated, with Hyundai’s ordering website crashing shortly after ordering went live.
“Online ordering went live at 9:30am AEDT. The load on the website led to some technical issues and the early suspension of the ordering process,” said Hyundai in a statement. “The vehicle sold out in just over two hours”.
The extremely limited amount of stock has been attributed to the global semi-conductor shortage, which is affecting the manufacturing of batteries used in electric vehicles. Hyundai forecasts that demand for the Ioniq 5 will outstrip supply in 2022 as well.
The unprecedented demand for the Ioniq 5 is a strong indicator of growth for the Australian EV market, that has lagged behind other developed nations. When Hyundai first announced the Australian release, more than 10,000 hopeful customers registered their interest, with 100 paying a deposit to have priority access to the vehicle upon its release.
The limited release has undoubtedly left many EV enthusiasts frustrated and disappointed, but the company intends to keep customers who missed out informed as to future availability.
“Once we have clear visibility of vehicle supply, we intend to release a second allocation of Ioniq 5s, with timing likely to be early 2022”, said a representative for the brand.
Top 5 Electric Vehicles in Australia 2021
An EV to rival the Tesla
No compact electric cars have matched Tesla’s all-wheel-drive traction, impressive range and rapid charging potential. The Hyundai Ioniq could change that with its powerful electric motor, a big battery and eye-catching looks.
For Australian’s making the transition to an EV (reportedly over 50% of Australians in the next 5 years), the mid-size Ioniq 5 will tick a lot of boxes.
Hyundai Australia CEO, Jun Heo, reiterated this in a statement on Wednesday; “The powerful, long-range, ultra-fast charging IONIQ 5 represents the leading edge in zero emissions battery electric vehicles and is certain to delight our customers”.
Hyundai first’s dedicated all-electric model, the Ioniq’s appeal has been attributed to its dynamic design, generous specification and wide range of technologies that support owner’s everyday lives. It arrives in a single high-spec trim in Australia, with the 160kW RWD version offering 451km of range, and the 225kW AWD version with 430km of range. Both are backed by a 72.6kWh battery pack, the bigger of two available globally.
The Ioniq’s charging time is a big selling point, with a 10.5kW AC charger (with a Type 2 plug) charging the shared battery from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in six hours and six minutes, while a 350kW DC fast charger can do the same job in just 17 minutes and 16 seconds. Regenerative braking is also supported, including a ‘one pedal’ mode.
Other impressive features include a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, sharp-edged Parametric Pixel lighting, eight-speaker Bose premium sound system, ‘relaxation’ front seats, adjustable ‘universal island’ centre console, eco-friendly recycled PET bottle cabin furnishings, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
It is also equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense, featuring the latest drive-assist and smart safety features to reduce the stress and risk of daily commuting. Features include Autonomous Emergency Braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, remote smart parking assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (and machine learning integration), and much more.
Are you EV-ready?
If you’re considering purchasing an EV, and you haven’t already got solar panels on your roof, the time is now. With a combination of solar and an EV, you can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying free energy from the sun. The payback period for rooftop solar is typically under 5 years. In addition, there are numerous government rebates available to help offset your upfront costs.
If you want the additional convenience of charging your EV with solar-generated electricity overnight, you may want to consider investing in a solar storage battery.
Assisting over 30,000 Australians in their transition to clean energy, Energy Matters can guide you toward a solar and/or battery storage solution that fits your lifestyle and budget. Receive up to 3, obligation-free quotes from our trusted network of accredited solar installers in Melbourne. It’s fast, free and takes the hassle out of shopping around.
