Last Updated on March 5, 2022 by Anu Joy
Hyundai has laid down the roadmap for its electric vehicles that are expected to reach showrooms by the year 2030. In an attempt to take the challenge to other rival manufacturers, the South Korean auto giant will be adding up to 17 EVs to its existing lineup. The roadmap to electrification was revealed recently by Jaehoon Chang, CEO of Hyundai Worldwide.
Let’s have a closer look at it below.
Hyundai Investments For Electrification
Chang stated that the company would be investing a whopping 19.4 trillion won (approx. ₹1.25 lakh crores/ $16.8 billion) for the research and development of born electric cars, bringing new innovations, developing platforms, and increasing the production facilities to manufacture EVs.
While it may be a huge sum, industry pundits believe it pales in comparison to the $70 billion commitment by the world’s largest automobile company, Toyota, for its electrification projects and autonomous vehicles. Hyundai is looking to gain a seven percent market share in the global EV space, with the aim to sell about 1.87 million units every year going forward.
Hyundai’s New EV Platform And Expectations
Out of the 17 electric cars to be developed, 11 cars would be manufactured under the Hyundai brand, while the remaining seven would be from Hyundai’s premium subsidiary—Genesis. The Hyundai lineup will comprise six SUVs, three sedans, one light commercial vehicle, and one vehicle with a new body type.
Hyundai’s born EV, the Ioniq 5, is underpinned by the global E-GMP platform, which is a skateboard automobile platform. Such types of platforms can be extended or shortened to produce various body styles, allowing tighter integration, and helping to cut down the costs. In a skateboard EV platform, the battery is placed on the floor, allowing for a lower centre of gravity. Manufacturers can also tinker with the wheelbase to cram in larger capacity batteries, if needed.
According to the new strategy, Hyundai will be utilising an advanced version of the E-GMP platform, called IMA (Integrated Modular Architecture) by the year 2025. Hyundai says, “Unlike the existing BEV development system, which has different types of battery packs for each model, IMA can be equipped with standardized battery packs to attach flexibly regardless of the model to improve cost efficiency. Through the cell-to-pack system, the new architecture can secure sufficient energy density and shorten charging time”.
Standardised five types of motors can be installed on this platform. Moreover, the company claims the vehicles designed on this platform will offer up to 50 percent more driving range and reduce the manufacturing costs by 40 percent, a win-win for both customers and the brand. The upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan is expected to be built on the older E-GMP platform. However, the Ioniq 7, scheduled for 2024 might be built on the new IMA platform.
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