When the Ionic 5 was released, the most noticeable thing was the mileage, not the price or options. Before the launch, it was a Hyundai that was confident that “the driving distance of the battery will exceed 500km once the battery is fully charged”, so many consumers who have confirmed the mileage shorter than expected cannot hide their disappointment. Of course, nonetheless, there seems to be no obstacle to the box office.
Various hypotheses have been proposed for the reason that the mileage was set shorter than expected, and industry experts and many consumers pointed out that this was the result of this single technology first applied to the Ioniq 5. Today’s AutoPost Issue Plus takes one more step into the story of the Ioniq 5, which is equipped with a new technology that Tesla could not even apply.
Written Joonyoung Park Editor
Even at shorter mileage than expected
Record sales volume medium
Consumers’ interest in the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is causing a sensation at the beginning of sales, is very hot. The number of pre-contracts has already exceeded the target sales this year, and there is even talk of having to wait for more than a year, like the 2018 Palisade crisis. This is a passage that shows how much prospective consumers were expecting the Ioniq 5.
Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the first new car Ioniq 5 using the E-GMP electric vehicle platform and introduced one new function. This is the V2L (Vehicle To Load) function that can supply general power (220V) to the outside of the vehicle. Hyundai Motor Company announced in a press release that the V2L function will be a key factor in providing customers with a new electrification experience and an opportunity to confirm the new possibilities of electric vehicles as a moving energy source.
V2L features that many people have noticed
One car
Can be used like a secondary battery
A closer look at the V2L function is as follows. To explain in simple terms, a car can be used as an auxiliary battery. It is worth noting that it provides up to 3.6kW of power consumption, which is higher than that used in ordinary homes, so that home appliances and electronic devices can be used without restrictions in various external environments such as outdoor activities or camping places.
Going one step further, the electric vehicle battery can be used as a household power source in an emergency or to charge other electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor Company introduced this as “a function that allows you to taste future energy life in advance.” Not only does the car act as a means of transportation, but as mentioned earlier, it is now possible to perform the role of a large auxiliary battery.
“I didn’t even do Tesla, but I’m proud”
“It’s just a miscellaneous skill”
The reactions of netizens who are greatly mixed
Consumers are very interested in the V2L technology that Hyundai Motor has put forward as a marketing element. However, opinions on this were greatly divided. “Hyundai Motors has finally installed the world’s first new technology”, “Hyundai Motors is proud to put the V2L function that even Tesla could not put in first”, “Ioniq 5 will soon appear common in camping sacred places nationwide. There were many consumers who expressed their expectations.
However, there were many netizens who responded negatively, saying, “It’s just a miscellaneous skill,” “It’s the main culprit in shortening battery life,” and “Isn’t this technology reduced the mileage?” In particular, there were netizens who responded that “Tesla couldn’t apply this technology because of the possibility of a fire risk, but that Hyundai Motor, who suffered from a fire in Kona, showed this technology, which is more than expected.”
Just an auxiliary device
Why V2L technology is attracting attention
The reason why this technology is attracting attention is simple. In a way, V2L technology, which is merely an auxiliary device, is a function that can only be enjoyed in pure electric vehicles. For consumers who have been camping frequently, both internal combustion engine cars and electric vehicles have used electricity while carrying inverters or separate generators, but if you use the V2L function, you can use electronic products with only one car without cumbersome auxiliary equipment.
Therefore, campers seem to be paying attention to the V2L function that is installed in the IONIC 5 in particular. In fact, it is possible to draw 3.6kW of power with V2L, so this is a level that can safely run four 700W microwave ovens used at home. If you are a little unreasonable, you can also use 2,000W induction. The laptop battery can be plugged into the charging terminal and the dryer can also be used.
Car power in everyday life
That you can use it to your heart’s content
It could be an obvious advantage
It is a clear advantage that the car can secure power by itself and use it for everyday life. If V2L technology becomes more widespread and can be used in all electric vehicles, electronic products that can be used in automobiles will be poured out. It is said that automobiles will have a profound impact on the electronics market as well.
Also, even if you don’t have to enjoy camping, there is a clear advantage that you can freely use 220V outlets to use various electronic devices in your daily life. Hyundai Motor Company has set up to use V2L only about 70% of the maximum capacity of the battery in order to reserve the power the car can run. Based on a long-range model, a 40W laptop with power consumption can be used for 1270 hours. A 2,000W electric heater lasts 25 hours. For reference, the V2L function applied to the IONIC 5 is provided as a standard for external power and as a customizing option for the indoor V2L.
To use the V2L function
Battery capacity
Must have been significantly reduced
However, there are also stories that the V2L may eventually be poisonous to Hyundai. In particular, there were many stories related to the mileage or fire, but in order to use the V2L function stably, the mileage had to be set conservatively.
The percentage of usable energy compared to the full charge of an electric vehicle’s battery pack is called SOC (state of charge), and Kona Electric’s SOC, which was controversial over the fire, reached 97%. As a result, there is also a story saying, “The battery’s safety margin was hardly placed and excessive use caused the fire.” However, it is said that Ioniq 5 set the SOC to 90% or less, which is far below this. This is because the stabilization of the battery pack is the top priority in order to utilize the V2L function.
Fire risk
Cannot be excluded
In fact, Tesla has already announced that it will install the V2L function on mass-produced cars in the past, but in the end, it is a technology that has not yet been applied to mass-produced cars. Nissan applied the technology to the electric vehicle leaf in 2018 and promoted it as “useful when electricity is cut off due to a disaster such as an earthquake,” but it did not receive much attention. The concept of technology itself has been mentioned for a long time. The reason they did not properly incorporate the V2L function into the car is due to the risk of fire.
Tesla mentioned that it would apply the feature to the Cybertruck and Model 3, but in the end, it didn’t apply it due to the risk of battery fire. Hyundai Motor Company, which applied V2L technology to mass-produced electric vehicles for the first time, would also have known this accurately, and as such, it would have been technically well complemented and released. Then, inevitably, there is no choice but to increase the battery safety margin. The mileage is bound to decrease naturally.
At this point, new technology
You have to judge only the facts that you have loaded
Let’s watch what will happen afterwards
That is why it is often heard that the Ioniq 5’s mileage did not exceed 500km with the V2L function. In addition to this, as Hyundai Motor is still struggling with electric vehicle fire problems, it may have set the maximum allowable charging value lower than the safety setting. In fact, Ioniq 5 used the latest battery with a higher nickel content than the battery applied to Kona Electric, and recorded a mileage without significant difference even though the capacity was also higher.
However, at this point, it is not the stage to be asked about the stability of V2L technology. This is because all industry experts know why V2L technology has not been applied to mass-produced cars so far, and Hyundai Motor Company has been technically supplementing these parts and launching them. As many consumers are concerned, if a fire occurs due to the function or another problem occurs in the future, it will not be too late to discuss the problem again at that time. If a fire occurs due to the V2L function, then a major problem of irreversible level may occur. It was Auto Post Issue Plus.
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