Casteyanqui.com | Electric Vehicles

Rocinante…!
(Click to enlarge)

Hello, Ioniq 5!

January 19, 2024

Mark D Larsen

As explained in my previous post, today I drove to the Hyundai Dealership in Lindon, Utah, to trade-in our Tesla Model 3 and buy a spanking new 2024 Ioniq 5 Limited AWD. I had noticed that this particular model was on their lot several weeks ago, and was tempted to buy it immediately. It was the top-of-the-line model that I wanted, and in my preferred colors inside and out: two-tone gray interior and Cyber Gray exterior. That particular configuration is one of the most popular in Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 lineup, and I hadn’t been able to find the exact match anywhere near me for many months. Indeed, I still had to drive 279 miles to take delivery, but that was at least closer than Phoenix or Los Angeles.
I again checked on the car earlier this week, and was surprised to see that it was still available, given the demand for Limited models. Then I noticed some details that weren’t offered before and sweetened the deal for me. Hyundai had discounted this Ioniq 5 Limited by the same amount as the full tax incentive that “qualified” EVs can receive from the Federal Government: $7,500. Moreover, the icing on that cake was even sweeter: the dealer was offering an additional $2,500 discount if the buyer would trade-in a “competitive” vehicle like a Bolt or a Tesla. Getting $10,000 off the MSRP price clinched the deal for me!

I started the buying process online the day before and was soon contacted by the sales rep who would handle the transaction. I provided all the information needed, gathered my paperwork, removed all our paraphernalia from our Tesla Model 3, and arranged to drive to the dealership to finalize the purchase. You can see me standing next to our new Ioniq 5 Limited in the showroom at the top of the page, right before I drove it off the lot. Below is a brief album of its first, brief roadtrip to return home.

NOTE: You can click on the following photos to enlarge them, and the movies to play them.

From the dealership I drove to the nearest DCFC chargers in Scipio, Utah. There were only four chargers at this location, but fortunately one of the 350kW units was available. I knew that plugging in and charging would not be as easy as at a Supercharger site —and I was right. It took me a while to read and follow the instructions.

What confused me most was that I had to "tap" my phone with the Electrify America app over a spot below a small payment screen, instead of on the screen itself. Once I figured that out, the electrons started flowing.

Here is a short video of the Ioniq 5's charging lights, showing that its first DCFC session is working.

I took this photo right before the charge reached the designated 80% I had set at the dealer.

As the system predicted, it only took 12 minutes to finish the charge. That was actually faster than the time it took to charge the Tesla on the way up. How much did the charge cost? Zero, zip, zilch, nada, because Hyundai sells the 2024 Ioniq 5 with two years of free 30-minute charging from Electrify America. Yet more sugar in the purchase!

I then set the navigation to take me to the next Electrify America stations in Beaver. One nice feature that was upgraded in the Ioniq 5 Limited is that it now pre-conditions the battery for optimal charging when navigating to a DCFC station, just like in a Tesla.

Here I have arrived at the Beaver site, and was the only one there.

Now that I knew the right steps, it was fairly quick and easy to start the charge. This time it predicted it would take 13 minutes to reach 80%.

While it charged, I wandered over to the restrooms, and then saw a truckload of black Teslas pulling in to the truckstop. Pretty ironic, since I just traded in mine for an… Ioniq.

Shortly after I returned, the charge finished.

Sure enough, it took the predicted 13 minutes.

Again, the cost for the charge was free.

I then set the navigation to take me home, confident that the 80% charge was sufficient to get me there.

Like an opposite bookend, the sunrise I saw that morning was matched by a colorful desert sunset.

I arrived home shortly after dark, and then took this photo of our new EV the next morning to share with friends and family.

I have ordered some J3400-to-J1772 adapters so that I can charge the Ioniq 5 from our HPWC in the garage. Until they arrive, I’ll just use the lowly 120V mobile charging unit that came with the car. It’s painfully slow, but will suffice for a few days. Besides, if really needed, I could go charge at the local Electrify America site at one of our Walmarts —for free. Moreover, as the transition to J3400 plugs rolls out this year, eventually we will also be able to charge at Superchargers with an adapter, like the Lectron Vortex and the A2Z Typhoon. In fact, the latter company is also developing an extension cord to solve the problem of Tesla’s short cables. You can bet I’ll be investing in those accessories over the next year.
There are a lot of features that I am still exploring in the car. Obviously, its interface is different than in our previous Tesla, but it seems fairly easy to navigate. I am delighted that it has actual physical buttons for the most used functions, and even more delighted with its heads up display on the windshield. All cars should have that feature! Driving home was a dream: the adaptive cruise control, the lane keep, and the change lane features were infinitely better, more reliable, more comfortable than in the Tesla. Its driver assistance software truly assists the driver —rather than trying to take control of the vehicle. I also have noted that the charging times are blazingly fast: it took me 25 minutes to charge twice on the way home, yet it took 40 minutes to charge twice in the Tesla en route to the dealer on the very same highways.
I’ll be sure to mention other features as we continue to use the vehicle in the future. Already I can say that it will be easier for Tamara to get in and out of the car, and it even has hand grips over all four doors to help her. As for me, I am happy to again have a hatchback like my previous LEAF, instead of a low, long trunk. It is also a bigger, taller, wider, roomier car than the Model 3, with better visibility, and even boasts such amenities as a digital rearview mirror, a power cover for the glass roof, sliding and reclining rear seats, a dedicated “bin” for a purse or bag, two V2L (vehicle-to-load) outlets, and a driver’s seat that can convert to a lounge chair with foot rest!
I have decided to give this Ioniq 5 Limited the name “Rocinante” —perhaps fitting, given my profession. I arranged to have our same personalized license plate transferred to this car, and will mount it as soon as the permanent registration and title arrive. We anticipate many more relaxing roadtrips ahead!

From the dealership I drove to the nearest DCFC chargers in Scipio, Utah. There were only four chargers at this location, but fortunately one of the 350kW units was available. I knew that plugging in and charging would not be as easy as at a Supercharger site —and I was right. It took me a while to read and follow the instructions.	What confused me most was that I had to "tap" my phone with the Electrify America app over a spot below a small payment screen, instead of on the screen itself. Once I figured that out, the electrons started flowing.
Here is a short video of the Ioniq 5's charging lights, showing that its first DCFC session is working.
I took this photo right before the charge reached the designated 80% I had set at the dealer.	As the system predicted, it only took 12 minutes to finish the charge. That was actually faster than the time it took to charge the Tesla on the way up. How much did the charge cost? Zero, zip, zilch, nada, because Hyundai sells the 2024 Ioniq 5 with two years of free 30-minute charging from Electrify America. Yet more sugar in the purchase!
I then set the navigation to take me to the next Electrify America stations in Beaver. One nice feature that was upgraded in the Ioniq 5 Limited is that it now pre-conditions the battery for optimal charging when navigating to a DCFC station, just like in a Tesla.	Here I have arrived at the Beaver site, and was the only one there.
Now that I knew the right steps, it was fairly quick and easy to start the charge. This time it predicted it would take 13 minutes to reach 80%.	While it charged, I wandered over to the restrooms, and then saw a truckload of black Teslas pulling in to the truckstop. Pretty ironic, since I just traded in mine for an… Ioniq.
Shortly after I returned, the charge finished.	Sure enough, it took the predicted 13 minutes.
Again, the cost for the charge was free.	I then set the navigation to take me home, confident that the 80% charge was sufficient to get me there.
Like an opposite bookend, the sunrise I saw that morning was matched by a colorful desert sunset.	I arrived home shortly after dark, and then took this photo of our new EV the next morning to share with friends and family.