Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen December 19, 2024

Hometown Taxi, a small community-minded taxi company based in Decorah, recently added its first electric vehicle to its fleet. Known for providing rides in and around Decorah and regional trips to places like Iowa City, Rochester, Des Moines and Madison, the company has long relied on its fleet of five Toyota Priuses and a hybrid Toyota Sienna to meet the needs of its customers. After years of considering a move to electric, they purchased a used 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 two weeks ago, marking their first step toward integrating EVs into their operation.The decision to go electric wasn’t made lightly. Hometown Taxi considered several EVs, and consulted with us here at the Winneshiek Energy District over the past few years. They investigated several EVs, including the now retired Chevy Bolt, Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Tesla Y, and others, but ultimately chose the Ioniq 5. Its interior height, spacious design, and flat interior floor were deciding factors, as many of their customers are elderly and need easy access in and out of the vehicle. While they had hesitated for years due to concerns about range, battery life, and charging infrastructure, the recent drop in used EV prices made the purchase feel less risky.

One of the major advantages of the Ioniq 5 is its cutting-edge Hyundai E-GMP platform, which uses an 800-volt architecture coupled with a best in class charging curve that unlocks wickedly fast charging. New Hyundai and Kia vehicles like the Ioniq 5, soon to be released Ioniq 9, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 are built on the E-GMP platform and offer incredibly fast charging. When connected to a 350 kW DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 can recharge its 77 kW battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

However, DC fast charging infrastructure is still limited in rural areas of Northeast Iowa, though larger population cities like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Ames, Des Moines, LaCrosse, Rochester and Madison are seeing a rapid build out of Level 3 DC fast chargers. Additionally, starting in January, Hyundai vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, which will further expand Hometown Taxi’s ability to take the vehicle regionally. For now, the Ioniq 5 is being used for local trips in and around Decorah, replacing one of their older Priuses on the in-town route. The long-distance trips to places like Iowa City and Des Moines are still handled by the Priuses.

To support the new EV, Hometown Taxi installed a Level 2 charger at their heated shop. This allows the vehicle to fully recharge overnight, ensuring it’s ready for daily use. Keeping the car indoors helps mitigate cold weather range loss while also ensuring the vehicle’s interior is warm. Their particular Ioniq 5 has a rated range of 260 miles and is equipped with a heat pump cabin heater, which helps limit range loss in cold weather.

While it’s too early to tell how the Ioniq 5 will perform long-term and with regional travel, the addition of the Ioniq 5 reflects Hometown Taxi’s cautious but forward-thinking approach. They’ll be keeping a close eye on how well the vehicle integrates into their operations, with plans to explore its potential for longer trips down the road. For now, the Ioniq 5 represents a significant step in reducing their vehicle fleet’s emissions while continuing to serve northeast Iowa in a community-focused way.

Person with short hair and glasses smiles in front of a sign that reads “INNESHEK ENERGY PROJECT” with a building silhouette and sunburst in the background.

Kristin Eggen

Kristin Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in 2015. Eight years later, she is thrilled to lead the grassroots clean energy movement in Winneshiek County. Kristin deeply appreciates rural communities, Northeast Iowa, community sustainability, and nonprofit management. She uses The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter methodology and graphic recording services to drive strategic conversations around community sustainability, justice, fundraising, and nonprofit health.

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