200-Mile Electric Hyundai SUV Reportedly In The Works
Hyundai is planning to release an all-electric SUV with at least 200 miles of range by 2018, according to recent reports.
The news — which originated with the Korea Herald — has seemingly been confirmed by an unnamed company rep, so it appears to have something solid to it. The confirmation didn’t reference a range, though, but rather simply that that company would be releasing “a new electric SUV” by 2018.
The unnamed all-electric (EV) Hyundai SUV will build on the work that the company has done on its electric vehicle technology in recent times — which led to the recent launch of the Hyundai Ioniq.
Green Car Reports provides more:
Hyundai-Blog suggests, without a source, that the electric SUV may also be offered with a larger-capacity pack yet, giving it a range of up to 300 miles. That first 200-mile range, incidentally, is given as 320 kilometers, and is likely measured on the Korean test cycle — which could be the equivalent of only 140 to 160 miles on the tougher US EPA cycle.
The larger pack might be required to get the US range rating above the 200-mile mark, but at the moment, this remains conjecture. Like the dedicated Ioniq platform, which is shared by Hyundai’s sister brand Kia in the form of the Niro “hybrid utility vehicle,” the new all-electric SUV architecture will likely spawn a Kia variant as well.
It’s “noteworthy,” analyst Kim Jin-woo of Korea Investment Securities told the Herald, that Hyundai is focusing on SUVs for its upcoming all-electric vehicle. Kim attributes that to the better market reception for the Kia Niro hybrid “SUV” than for the Ioniq hybrid hatchback built on the same underpinnings.
Considering that the Korean company is reportedly working on a hydrogen fuel cell SUV as well, it seems fairly likely that the two (the fuel-cell vehicle and the all-electric) will share a common platform, or at least design elements.
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The shift from fossil fuels in auto industry is historic. To think that within the next 5 years or so, there could be at least 10 (min) EV manufactures with models that get over 200 miles of range. These are very exciting times. And we owe it to Elon Musk
Let’s not forget that LG Chem, the company building all the battery/motor/electronics for the GM Bolt, is a Korean company. Seeing longer range EVs emerging from Korean car manufacturers should be expected.
Yes and by all indication they will be dropping the CHAdeMO standard which should help to simplify infrastructure.
“Considering that the Korean company is reportedly working on a hydrogen fuel cell SUV as well”
The Tuscan Fuel Cell vehicle is shown on Hyundai’s website for lease $499/mo + $2999 down. https://www.hyundaiusa.com/tucsonfuelcell/index.aspx
Looking at the dimensions of the 2016 ICE Tuscan and the Tuscan Fuel Cell model, they’re similar. I agree, it makes sense for them to make a BEV version of this.
It would be great if they can come to market at 200+ miles EPA rated range so they can compete against the Chevy Bolt. Looking at the specs for each, the Tuscan is a little larger than the Bolt which is desirable. If Hyundai really wants to impress, they should build a Santa Fe model with 200+ miles of EPA rated range at a $37K to $40K price point. A 200+ mile Santa Fe would put Hyundai alone (competition free) in a highly desirable segment.
They probably won’t be able to because of the batteries..
To get the batteries up to that price point the volume would need to be ramped up faster than what one is able to observe.
The incumbents are still not in it yet, they keep milking their cash cows and have no brave managers that do make the necessary steps – they will be forced to react, instead of acting.
Pretty sad state of affairs really.
LG Chem is apparently scaling up almost as fast as Panasonic/Tesla.
Last public info has them aiming for 450,000 EV battery packs by 2020. P/T was aiming for 500,000 but they seem to have sped up their target date if the Mod3 is going into large scale production before 2020.
Right, but LG chem is not just supplying Hyundai there, is it?
As far as I know GM is their big customer. Bolt 30,000 expected production for first full year. That leaves plenty for other companies out of the 450k.
website for lease $499/mo + $2999
That is pretty cheap! a PHEV Mitsubishi would be double that here in the UK.