As fuel prices kept soaring beyond a bulwark, several manufacturers took to the idea of combining a battery, electric motor and an engine to increase driving range, performance and fuel efficiency figures. Toyota and Honda were the pioneers of this concept and showed their understanding of it in the form of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight models.
Since then, several other models of these brands, particularly those that were marked with a notoriety for emitting high levels of carbon were incubated under this Bumbershoot. Purportedly, Hyundai seems ambitious to embark on this bandwagon and has revealed its near future intentions.
Hyundai aims at accentuating its hybrid vehicle lineup two-fold, from seven to fourteen, including Genesis, particularly in the North America region as it foresees a boost in demand for hybrids there. It has revealed that its luxury brand, Genesis will also have models that couple an electric motor, battery and an engine. Moreover, it will be augmenting its Ioniq range of vehicles to encompass a three-row electric SUV, named ‘Ioniq 9’ which is slated for a debut later this year.
Furthermore, the Korean auto giant has unravelled vital intel about its upcoming hybrid architecture, called TMED-II which is likely to offer better fuel-efficiency and performance than the existing concept. Adding to the ambition, the company says it will reach the manufacturing phase by early next year and eventually, the added doles of recuperative deceleration and vehicle-2-load assistance will accompany the cars to add convenience. These hybrids are set to be manufactured alongside their EVs at their manufacturing base in Georgia.
We are expected to bear witness to an increment in Hyundai’s EV model bandwidth by 2030 as the number would surge to 21. To democratize the new hybrid infrastructure, it will invest more in hybrid technology. As seen with certain Japanese models, there is probability of its cars transforming into series-hybrids where the engine mimics a generator for the electric motor to help the car lunge forward.
Hyundai’s next PHEV might commence full-scale manufacturing in North America and China towards the epilogue of 2026 and become visible at dealerships in 2027. To let consumers take full advantage of the hybrid powertrains, it is logical for Hyundai to plonk this setup in vehicles that emit much larger amounts of carbon emissions. Cars with relatively bigger engine displacements such as the Sonata, Palisade, Santa Fe, GV80, etc. could be shoehorned with the battery and electric motor sizes that would be appropriate for their girths.
Adding a dose of enthusiasm, the upcoming PHEV could acquire bragging rights to a dual-motor four-wheel propulsion configuration so that the acceleration is adrenaline-pumping and the odometer can clock in around 700 Km in real world before the battery is sans of any charge. However, this could prove to be mere speculation. That said, any figure close to the aforementioned or even around 500 Km on full single charge and gas tank would have consumers voting in Hyundai’s favour.
That said, the formidable reputation curated in the minds of Toyota and Honda customers who have driven and lived with their hybrids means Hyundai will have to comprehensively test its engine and battery-motor combinations to keep any possible faux-pas at bay and instil the same recognition and sense of reward in its customers as the Japanese auto manufacturers.
