Hyundai to launch new line of electric vehicles
The Korea Herald reports that Hyundai plans to launch a new brand of electrified vehicles in January. The first model from the new brand, tentatively named the AE, will be a hybrid, followed by PHEV and pure EV versions. According to the Herald, the five-door hatchback; a competitor for the Toyota Prius, will be equipped with a 1.6-litre gas engine, electric motor, and a transmission tailored for hybrid models. Hyundai already announced plans for a plug-in hybrid version of the Sonata, and earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun stated plug-in hybrids were essential to the survival of the company and the industry.

In the aftermath of the Volkswagen emissions-cheating scandal, carmakers ― both foreign and domestic ― are rushing to introduce more environmentally friendly cars, in particular, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, next year.



“Of course it would be more eco-friendly if we could have the full-electric vehicles because they emit no greenhouse gas at all. But given the situation that EVs are pricier and generally cannot run a long distance on a single charge, PHEVs are considered the optimal product in the Korean market at the moment,” an industrial pundit said.





The Sonata PHEV (Hyundai Motor)



Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor is expected to lead the trend, with the launch of its new brand of electric vehicles scheduled for January.



Known by its tentative project name, “AE,” the first model of Hyundai’s new green car brand will be first introduced as a hybrid electric vehicle, followed by PHEV and full-EV editions, aiming to become the world’s first green car with HEV, PHEV and EV types.



Hyundai believes that AE will outperform its global competitor ― Toyota’s Prius, which currently marks 21 kilometers per liter in combined fuel efficiency. The five-door hatchback will be equipped with a 1.6-liter Cappa gasoline direct injection engine, an electric motor and transmission tailored for the hybrid models.



Hyundai already began testing the waters with its Sonata PHEV in September. The model will also be out in the U.S. market next year.



The Sonata PHEV has received positive reviews so far for running in both EV and hybrid modes.



Its powertrain ― a hybrid-only direct injection engine ― boasts 156 horsepower. Added with the 9.8-kilowatt-hour lithium ion polymer battery and a 50-kilowatt electric motor, the power output increases to 205 horsepower.



The car also boasts 17.2 kilometers per liter in fuel mileage when running in HEV mode, and the EV mode reported 4.6 kilometers per kilowatt hour. A six-speed automatic transmission is added to bring the fun factor to driving.



Hyundai’s sister brand Kia Motors is also gearing up to realize its hybrid-only model, the “DE.”



“Such models are part of our vision, suggesting having 22 green cars in our lineup by 2020. By far it is going well,” a Hyundai Motor spokesman said.



Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chung Eui-sun earlier this year declared the PHEV as the answer to the future survival of the company and the industry.





The BMW 330e (BMW)



Global juggernauts are expected to join the competition.



German carmaker BMW will release PHEV types of its X5, 3-series and 7-series here in 2016.



The X5 and the 3-series will be out by the end of June and the 7-series will hit the market in the latter half of the year.



The X5 40e has a 111-horsepower electric motor and a four-cylinder 245-horsepower engine, with a maximum torque of 45.9 kilogram-meters. It was also accredited in Europe for its 29.4 kilometers-30.3 kilometers per liter of fuel mileage.



The 330e boasts 252 horsepower with its electronic motor and the four-cylinder engine. It runs 47.6 kilometers-52.6 kilometers per liter, as acknowledged by European authorities.





The Chevrolet Volt (GM)