South Korea’s largest car manufacturer, Hyundai, has now started to take pre-orders for its first hybrid vehicle for commercial sale.
The Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle will accept pre-orders until July 7 before the car is officially launched to the Korean domestic market. The car is the first hybrid electric to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine and includes an LPI Gamma engine displacing 1.6 litres as well as a 15kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor and a Continuously Variable Transmission.
The vehicle has some impressive environmental credentials – it emits 90 per cent fewer emissions than its equivalent standard petrol powered Elantra and qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle as it emits just 99g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Its fuel economy rating is 42mpg with a petrol equivalent economy of 51mpg. This is a 47 per cent improvement when compared to the conventional 1.6litre Elantra.
According to Hyundai, the battery has numerous benefits such as 65 per cent more power density; 15 per cent more energy density; 43 per cent better state-of-charge estimation; and 12 per cent more energy efficiency. It also boasts a more accurate SOC estimation which makes it possible to expand the SOC range with a diversified driving strategy and improved cycle life.
