Hyundai is hoping for a real boost in sales with a newly developed hybrid system. But the new EREV cars will not come to Sweden.
As demand for electric cars declines, Hyundai plans to scale up its investment in hybrid cars. In January, a new hybrid powertrain will be launched, which should be significantly more efficient than the current system.
It is not just small and medium-sized car models that will get hybrid technology, but models in all size classes. The sales target for hybrid cars has been increased by 40 percent in just one year.
Among other things, the new hybrid powertrain gets better brake force recovery and V2L technology to be able to share power with other gadgets.
Alongside the new hybrid system, Hyundai is also developing a so-called EREV system with the option of four-wheel drive. It stands for Extended Range Electric Vehicle and is basically an electric car with a petrol engine. However, it is not used to drive the wheels but to charge the battery.
According to Hyundai, this solution is a direct response to the declining demand for electric cars, but will so far only be launched in North America and China.
However, the electric car investment is not being put on hold. In 2030, the electric car range will consist of 21 models, and one of the novelties will be the large, seven-seater SUV Ioniq 9.
In future electric cars from Hyundai, the battery pack will become an integral part of the car’s body structure, which should provide better performance and lower weight. How it will affect the repair cost if one of the battery cells needs to be replaced or in the event of an accident is unclear.
Alongside that, a new type of NCM battery (nickel, cobalt and manganese) is also being developed, which will be cheaper than today’s NCM batteries.
