2010: Hyundai hybrids finally come to US
Will be Hyundai's first full hybridIn 2010, Hyundai will finally begin selling hybrid cars in the US. The Hyundai Sonata is scheduled to be the first hybrid to hit US shores.
More interesting, Hyundai plans to sell the Sonata hybrid as a lithium-powered hybrid vehicle that should increase fuel economy by 70 percent. LG Chem will provide the batteries.
Hyundai plans to sell 50,000 Sonata hybrids in the first year, but the automaker wants to quickly ramp up hybrid production to 500,000 hybrids - including other hybrid models - per year by 2018 according to AutoWeek.
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, hyundai sonata hybrid, lithium battery
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:27 AM
11 Comments:
Ahhhh, there it is, that magical year, 2010!!
This is really a hybrid car that makes sense! An increase of 70% in fuel efficiency is what EVERY automakers goal should be. Of course, will I be able to get a car loan then? :)
According to my experience Korean car suck regarding fuel efficiency. Recently I was driving almost new Kia Rio (5,000 miles) for a day, mostly on a slightly congested highway. I could not believe that it consumed so much fuel. I didn't measure it exactly, but it seemed to be only slightly more than 20 mpg. I wonder if these cars really met 20/30mpg expectations.
car loan? no kidding. without the Wall Street bailout, the US auto industry is done.
i don't have much experience with hyundai vehicles, but i'm glad to hear them take such an aggressive stance.
Indigo Incarnates
I could have sworn I read that the Hyndai/Kia hybrid system was going to be a power-assist like Honda's IMA. But hey, it could operate on Earth Magic for all I care so long as it gets good gas mileage!
i've reported that here in the past, and that's true for the Elantra hybrid, but it isn't clear whether that vehicle will ever make it to the states.
the sonata hybrid will make it to the states and that will be a full hybrid with a lithium battery.
5-9-09
According to HYUNDAI official news site, in late 2009 they will be shipping to USA both hybrid ELANTRA as well as hybrid ACCENT .....I dont believe it either but if TRUE and its expected mileage is 35/48 or so, Im buying one !
It's possible. If they launch as 2010 models, then you would expect them in late 2009.
I rented a 2009 Hyndai Sonata while on vacation and I was very impressed with the mileage and the car. I figure I saved the price of an entire tank fill-up unlike the last rental that was a Pontiac Grand Prix that used twice as much gas for the same distance..I was just soo happy about the mileage on the Hyndai. It was so quiet I didn't know if the motor was running or not. It's a smooth ride and sharp looking too.
and that wasn't even the hybrid version.
Hyundai needs to use this opportunity to step up to the plate with hybrids and SOON!!! Toyota and Honda are the only TRUE hybrid manufacturers currently which is why they are able to sell small hatchbacks at a premium. Since Hyundai has managed to finally produce decent cars at very reasonable prices, I am sure they can surely do the same with hybrids. My question is how they are able to produce lithium hybrids when Toyota says that the technology is still several years off from being refined??? Does Hyundai really know more than Toyota???....I think their's a good chance!!!
well, according to toyota, lithium is safe and provides a small gain in fuel efficiency compared to NiMH in something like the Prius. However, lithium doesn't do this cost-effectively according to Toyota.
For plug-in hybrids and EVs, however, Toyota believes that lithium is the correct technology, but that it's going to be very expensive for a long time.
Hyundai hasn't really commented on these issues. However, experts claim that if Hyundai has perfected lithium polymer technology, it could bring down manufacturing costs faster than other lithium technologies.
One way or another, we will soon find out about Hyundai hybrids.
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