IONIQ5 #BerlinChallenge Summer 2021!

Yesterday my buddy Hugo and I drove his brand new IONIQ5 Project 45 edition from Berlin (Hermannstraße S bahn station) to Amsterdam (Amstelstation). Google Maps shows a 656km projected ride of around six hours and thirty minutes when traffic is smooth.

I wrote a preview of The Berlin Challenge, if you’re not familiar with the idea, recommended!

800V - can it turn into the promised gamechanger?

Hyundai (and Kia) are the first to “introduce 800V to the masses” - their new E-GMP platform is what I like to call: futureproof. This roadtrip includes the first fast charging tests we have been doing since all is still very new also to Hugo (the owner) and myself.

We will never forget our Porsche adventure of 2020, this is how we learned about the incredible powers that an 800V system can deliver. When I found out Hyundai would bring this to the mainstream game… I wondered if they could really get this to market in 2021… Guess what!

150km/h does it make any sense?

With “normal EV’s” I usually try to stick close to 130km/h on the autobahn during the #BerlinChallenge.

For example with the BMW iX3 I already ran into throttling at the last fast charging session, and I’m pretty sure that would even “hit” earlier if you tried to drive it faster.

With the Hyundai IONIQ5 though, since an average fast charging speed of 200kW doesn’t seem that far fetched, Hugo and I tried to keep the cruise control running at or near 150km/h whenever possible and allowed.
We ran into traffic jams, we charged “too little” at EnBW and had mighty headwind coming at us, so even though it was a summer ride, not all was perfect.

Yet, this IONIQ5 is simply a beast at the fast charger and I recommend to watch the video to believe it:

Departure

14:02, Sunday July 18th, Berlin. Hermann strase, just south of the S bahn station.

Leaving Berlin I was surprised to find the traffic on the A100 flowing better than usual on a Monday or Tuesday (my prefered days for the challenge). Hugo’s love for fast driving should be tried and tested so we decided on 150km/h as our “cruising speed” when allowed and possible.

This meant that Allego Lauenau turned out to be too far, we charged at IONITY Lehrte Nord. Since we arrived with 6% SoC it makes me wonder, should we do 160km/h next time? For this stretch..? Does it make sense to arrive here with 0% SoC?

IONITY Lehrte Nord: 13min break for 43,7kWh.

The fastest stretch

To EnBW Melle I could maintain high velocity unless where there were digital speedlimits activated around Hannover and so on.

Sixty one minute ride for 130km.

It’s actually a station that I would rather not use during the challenge. Since there is just one alpitronic available, imagine another fast charging vehicle here and you already end up load balancing. Luckily we were alone, this time.

Ten minute session: 32,53kWh added (205kW average!)

Hypermiling

We simply miscalculated. IONITY Salzbergen is not a real option till December, reaching it through local roads is messy and slow. Allego Emsbüren already showed issues when I tested it a couple months back. Fastned at the border has only 50kW chargers and Shell Recharge beyond the border has only two 175kW Tritium machines. (Quite popular due to their attractive pricing, aka dangerous).

I started at 120km/h, dropped to 110km/h and eventually in The Netherlands we made it steady at 100km/h. Five kilometers before our destination we hit 0% SoC and the turtle. Cruise control disabled, still power though. We knew thanks to the OBD (dongle connected to Car Scanner Elm OBD2 app) we still had some percent, it was a useful test.

Ten minute break at Fastned: 32,85kWh added (205kW avg!)

The last leg

Crowded roads in The Netherlands, timed it so that we’re driving after 19:00 which means 130km/h is allowed until closing in on Amsterdam. We’re now just sailing, getting closer to the city I keep looking at the clock in amazement. Even with several traffic jams that we were a part of, and hypermiling because of our too short second session, we’re getting close to record beating material. What a vehicle!

The result

Every “challenge” this year will be hampered because nearby IONITY Salzbergen there is no competitive 300kW+ infrastructure. Of course that’s also what keeps the challenge alive: the need to improvise and think of other gameplans. Even the IONIQ5 might be faster at 130km/h just because of less greedy consumption.

All in all I’m flabbergasted that on a day with traffic jams, heavy headwind and our own charging mistakes we still nearly set a new record with six hours and thirty nine minutes (record still at 6h36m) for the #BerlinChallenge of all time. 800V is here to stay!

Please tell me what you’d like to see tested if we head out for another #IONIQ5 adventure.

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The full travel log, as always on Polarsteps!