Big Savings Claims On This Hybrid
Newcastle Herald
Saturday July 12, 2008
AS petrol prices continue to soar around the world and global warming becomes more reality and less theory, car makers are taking up the challenge of finding alternative ways to meet the challenge.
Korea's biggest car maker, Hyundai, will next year debut its answer to the energy crisis, when it unveils the world's first gas-electric hybrid, based heavily on its popular Elantra i30 model.Not only will the liquefied petroleum gas-powered car be the first gas-electric hybrid, but it will also be the first to use newly developed lithium-polymer (Li-poly) battery technology, which is claimed to have lower manufacturing costs, higher energy density and the ability to handle more charge-discharge cycles than the lithium-ion batteries now in favour. As well, the Li-poly batteries are claimed to be physically stronger and more damage resistant.The internal combustion engine for the Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle, a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder developing about 70 kilowatts, will come from the company's Gamma engine family.Described as a "mild hybrid", it will be mated to a 15-kilowatt electric motor and drive through a continuously variable automatic transmission.The company claims the engine will produce just 103 grams of carbon dioxide a kilometre and emissions will be 90 per cent lower than a comparable conventional car.The good news for buyers? Hyundai claims it will be 40 per cent cheaper to run than other hybrids and 50 per cent cheaper to operate than a comparable petrol-engined Elantra and even suggests the "hybrid premium" cost (about $10,000 $12,000 for current petrol-electric hybrids) can be recouped in two years on fuel savings alone.Hyundai plans to have the car on sale in Korea in July next year, before establishing an export program. Australia is likely to be part of that.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald