Hyundai, 800 Volt charging technology also on the restyled Ioniq 5

Hyundai raises the challenge on 800 volt technology in its electric vehicles, offering significant advantages in terms of fast charging, energy efficiency and performance.

Hyundai's 800V technology enables ultra-fast charging, allowing vehicles to go from 10% to 80% charge in about 18 minutes using a 350kW DC charger. This system is integrated into Hyundai's Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which supports both 400V and 800V charging infrastructure without the need for additional adapters.

Models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5 are equipped with this advanced technology. For example, the Ioniq 6 can add around 346 km of range in just 20 minutes of charging. These vehicles also offer features such as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which allows external devices to be powered using the vehicle's battery.

The latter has recently received a restyling that introduces significant new features in terms of both design and technology. The main technical innovation concerns the introduction of an upgraded 84 kWh battery, which allows a range of up to 570 km in the WLTP combined cycle and up to 784 km in urban areas, in the Exclusive Plus version with 19-inch wheels. This battery is available with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The interior of the Ioniq 5 has also been updated to improve ergonomics and user-friendliness. The 'Universal Island' centre console now features physical buttons for the most frequently used functions, such as climate control and steering wheel heating.

The new steering wheel design introduces interactive pixel lights, adding a distinctive and intuitive element to the cockpit. These aesthetic details are combined with a reorganisation of the infotainment and climate controls, improving ease of use and overall ergonomics. And it was this model in the top NLine trim that we were given to test drive the 800-volt technology. In an Ionity recharging station with 350kw (DC) columns, we were able to see the full extent of the 800V technology. Indeed, from 31% battery, after a mainly motorway journey, we reached 82% in about 12 minutes, the time for a coffee and a trip to the bathroom. We must point out, however, that no car always recharges at the advertised maximum speed. Most of them only peak when the battery is almost completely discharged and remain (if it goes well) at that speed for about the first 20 per cent recharge. And this depends on many variables, primarily the temperature of the battery and charger, which must be optimal. It must also be said that the Ioniq 5 on its own without any driver intervention 'pre-heats' the battery before arriving at the charging station. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 in the NLine trim is rightfully among the high-end SUVs, given its turnkey price of an impressive 62,300 euros.