Hyundai tackles range anxiety with GoCar deal

Hyundai in Ireland is planning to beat the problem of range anxiety among potential EV buyers by teaming up with car-sharing firm GoCar, in a deal that would enable buyers of the forthcoming electric Ioniq model to use GoCar vehicles at a significant discount when they need to complete a longer trip (ie. beyond the range of the Ioniq, which is said to be 250km). Apparently a similar deal is also in the works with Europcar for owners who need a car for a driving holiday, for which their Ioniq would not be suitable due to limited range.

The New Hyundai Ioniq electric is on display during the press day at the 86th Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland. Photograph: Martial Trezzini/EPA

Hyundai is taking an innovative approach to overcoming the hurdle of range anxiety among potential electric car buyers.

As it plans to launch its first full-electric car this summer, the Irish operation is finalising a deal with car-sharing firm GoCar that would let buyers of the electric Ioniq model use GoCar vehicles at a significant discount when they need to complete a longer trip.

A similar deal is planned with Europcar for owners who need a car for a longer vacation or driving holiday.

When you buy an Ioniq you will be automatically enrolled as a GoCar member, and can avail of a subsidised rate if you need a “second “ car for journeys such as Dublin and Cork and back or a trip to Donegal perhaps.

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Separately, owners will be enrolled in the Europcar “Privilege” club which gives them access to 6,500 cars at 14 locations all over the island.

Hyundai’s all-new Ioniq eco car was officially unveiled yesterday at the Geneva motor show, in hybrid and fully-electric form. The hybrid version is offered in regular petrol- hybrid format along with a plug-in hybrid variant. A full-electric version tops the Ioniq offering.

It claims a range of 250km on a full charge, which matches the claims for the Nissan Leaf, but the additional cover on offer from the GoCar deal is likely to reassure a lot more buyers who are put off the current electric car format because of the need for occasional longer trips.

The car is a major challenge across the current eco ranges, rivalling the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf.

The coupe styling is smart but the car is also practical with boot space of 750 litres.

Aside from the full-electric version there are also two hybrid versions. Go for the Ioniq Hybrid and you get a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 105bhp combined with an electric motor with 44hp (32 kW) for a total system output of 141 hp. It also has a 1.56-kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery and will have official emissions of just 79g/km.

Arguably of more interest is the the Ioniq Plug-in which allows for full-electric drivability of more than 50km thanks to the 0.9-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. This time around the 1.6 petrol engine is linked to a more powerful 61-bhp (45 kW) electric motor and CO2 emissions drop to 32g/km.

Prices have yet to be confirmed but Hyundai Ireland reckons the cars – in hybrid and full-electric formats – could go on sale in Ireland as early as July.