Hyundai's first hybrid car gets over 1,000 orders

[justlurkin]

I'm still kind of skeptical though.. The Avanti is supposed to be the Elantra here in the U.S., according to that article.. The 2009 Elantra starts at $13,320 according to Edmonds: Hyundai Elantra - Edmunds.com

I have a hard time believing that the hybrid components and battery pack would only add $1,680 to the cost..

Are Korean Domestic Market cars really that much more stripped-down in terms of safety equipment..?

[patsparks]

I wonder if part of the cost cutting is the LPG system which can meet emission control requirements with less stringent controls. Also different markets have different pricing. You Americans were able to buy the SS Commodore with Pontiac badges for less than Aussies could and that was after it travelled half the globe!

An LPG only hybrid will do well in Australia I expect. LPG is readily available almost everywhere in Australia.

If released here Hyundai could cut into the Prius market.

[bwilson4web]

Photos from the Detroit Auto show, January 2009:




Near as I could tell, there is just one motor because I saw only a single set of HV cables but there was not a whole lot of details. If there is one motor with an engine-side and transmission-side clutch, it could be a strong hybrid ... one capable of EV mode.

Remember, Toyota sold the first Prius 1997-2000 in Japan only. This led to a number of significant improvements in the NHW11, which was the first version sold in export, thankfully to the USA. So I wouldn't be too anxious to get a first generation, Hyundai hybrid but the second generation in about 3 years should be a serious contender.

Bob Wilson

[patsparks]

Where was that Bob? I seem to have missed it.

[SageBrush]

What sort of electric drivetrain is being discussed here ? How much is hte fuel economy improved over a straight LPG car without the hybrid components ?

As for the price -- who knows how much Hyundai is subsidizing the car. It's only 1000 cars for now. When the company decides to make 100k+ cars annualy I'll believe the sales price mirrors manufacturing costs.

[alam99]

Originally Posted by zenMachine

The Avante LPI runs 17.8 km per liter. While the fuel economy is inferior than that of hybrid models by Toyota and Honda, Lee claimed that the Avante LPI could gain appeal because the LPG price is cheaper.

Because of different testing methodology, 17.8 km per liter may not translate into the same fuel economy by U.S. testing standards. Plus, the article says the Avante gets lower fuel economy than its competitors. The Honda Civic & Insight and Toyota Prius gets 40-50 miles per gallon, I guess the Avante would get less than 40 MPG. This could explain why their hybrid system / car is less expensive. GM's hybrid system for the Malibu, Aura, and Vue was also inexpensive but did not really boost fuel economy very much.

Just some speculation on my part, I'm not basing this on any hard facts. I'm sure more information will float down from the web soon.

[Tideland Prius]

It will be popular with taxi companies. They do run LPG in Asia (as opposed to Natural Gas taxis here in NA).

[zenMachine]

"We're going after Prius and the Volt with the plug-in," he said.

The Blue-Will combines a 1.6 L gas engine with a 100 kw electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries that will be supplied by LG Chem. LG Chem is also supplying the Chevy Volt's batteries.

The plug-in parallel hybrid will travel up to 38 miles electric-only and will get between 50 and 55 MPG in gas-electric mode.

"We want to be the leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels," said Yang . "We want to show our technology and improve our image, not necessarily make money on hybrids.

The vehicle will appear under the Hyundai brand in the US in late 2012. Planned production volumes are unknown.

Hyundai Planning Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car for 2012 - AllCarsElectric.com

[justlurkin]

More details on the Hyundai Blue Drive system: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive: New Tech Details on Hyundai's First Hybrid - Popular Mechanics

It seems to me that Hyundai hybrid system is closer to Honda's IMA.. 40HP disk motor sandwiched between the engine and 6-speed transmission, but it goes one step further because the system uses a clutch to select electric-only, gas-only or both, so the 40hp disk motor can actually move the car on its own.

I guess that makes this system's complexity somewhere between GM's 2 mode and Honda's IMA.

We know these complex systems are expensive, which is why I am VERY skeptical that Hyundai can sell such a hybrid for $15,000 or less.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by justlurkin

More details on the Hyundai Blue Drive system: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive: New Tech Details on Hyundai's First Hybrid - Popular Mechanics

It seems to me that Hyundai hybrid system is closer to Honda's IMA.. 40HP disk motor sandwiched between the engine and 6-speed transmission, but it goes one step further because the system uses a clutch to select electric-only, gas-only or both, so the 40hp disk motor can actually move the car on its own.

I guess that makes this system's complexity somewhere between GM's 2 mode and Honda's IMA.

We know these complex systems are expensive, which is why I am VERY skeptical that Hyundai can sell such a hybrid for $15,000 or less.

In many respects, their system sounds like the old idea of putting an electric motor on the rear wheels and using a gas engine on the front ... a do-it yourself hybrid. There are some interesting aspects but just having a motor and gas engine is not enough. The integrated, control electronics is where a lot of the magic happens.

Bob Wilson