September 02, 2008

Hyundai Going Electric with Hybrids and Plug-Ins

ARTICLE TOOLS        | E-MailPrint RSS

Send an e-mail to colleagues Please fill out the form below to send a link to this story to your colleagues.
Your Name:	Your E-mail:
Colleagues' E-mail (Separate each address with comma):
Message: (Max. 500 chars.)
Enter the verification code as it is shown below without spaces. (Not case-sensitive) Enter Code: What's this? Image Code Verification Automated programs can't "read" the code you see in the box: only humans can. When you enter this code, it ensures that your order is going to a real person. If you don't see an image, make sure your browser is set to display images and try again. If you're not sure what the code is, make your best guess. If you're incorrect, you'll get another chance to enter a different code on the next screen. Close
CANCEL

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA – Hyundai's promised to put a hybrid subcompact, a hybrid mid-size, and a plug-in competitor to the Chevrolet Volt on the road within five years. There's even some speculation at least one of them could be stamped "Made in the USA," according to wired.com.

Hyundai's launching a partnership with Korean companies LG Chem, SK Energy, and SB LiMotive to develop the batteries its cars will need if they're to start hitting the road by 2010 as promised. The Japanese dominate battery tech these days, but Hyundai says the Koreans could catch up by 2013 — at which point the company hopes to put a plug-in hybrid on the road. Korean automakers are spending nearly $1 billion on battery tech, and the government has kicked in $40 million.

The first of the Hyundais to use that technology will be in November.

John Krafcik, Hyundai's VP of product development, announced the new Sonata hybrid will make its debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November and could be on the road by 2010. It'll use a lithium-ion battery, making it the first partially-electric Sonata since Switched-On Bach.

Another hybrid Hyundai in the works — a propane-electric hybrid based on the Avante (known here in the states as the Elantra) — promises 37.9 miles per gallon. The subcompact could be on the road as early as next year.

Early signs suggest the Sonata hybrid will be made in America.

[ Request more info about this product/service/company ]

Request More Info Fill out the form below to request more info regarding the company/product/service featured in the story.
* Name:	Company:
* E-mail:	Phone:
Preferred contact method: EmailPhone
I would like info on the following:
Enter the verification code as it is shown below without spaces. (Not case-sensitive) Enter Code: What's this? Image Code Verification Automated programs can't "read" the code you see in the box: only humans can. When you enter this code, it ensures that your order is going to a real person. If you don't see an image, make sure your browser is set to display images and try again. If you're not sure what the code is, make your best guess. If you're incorrect, you'll get another chance to enter a different code on the next screen. Close
CANCEL