Hyundai putting EVs at centre of production strategy
Hyundai Motor Co said on Thursday that it would make electric vehicles the centre of its product strategy and is looking to develop a long-distance EV that would compete with Tesla and others.
In the past, Hyundai and Toyota had focussed developing fuel cell technology, but has shifted to EVs as they watched Tesla gain prominence and battery-powered vehicles received government backing in China.
By 2021, the South Korean automaker hopes to introduce the Genesis EV with a range of 500 Km per charge. As well, in the first half of 2018, Hyundai is planning to introduce an EV version of its small SUV, the Kona, with a range of 390 Km.
“We’re strengthening our eco-friendly car strategy, centering on electric vehicles,” Reuters reports Executive Vice President Lee Kwang-guk said at a news conference. He added the technology is mainstream and realistic.
Hyundai along with its affiliate, Kia, also are planning on adding three plug-in vehicles to their lineup.
By 2020, the two automakers who rank fifth in global vehicle sales, plan to build eight battery-powered and two fuel-cell powered vehicles.
Hyundai told Reuters that it is developing its first dedicated EV platform which is expected to allow it to produce multiple models with longer driving ranges.
In 2016, Hyundai launched its EV car called IONIQ, but its post-charge driving range is much shorter than that of Tesla and GM EVs.
