Photo: Hyundai
The automotive world has always been very good at setting impromptu milestones for all manufacturers to adhere. Once, for example, it was the 300 km/h (186 mph) maximum speed limit, and now it looks like everybody wants to make a 200-miles plus electric car.
Why 200 miles? Well, it needs to be a round number, and since 300 isn't yet achievable, that was what we were left with. It's also a psychological thing as that number of miles is well beyond most people's daily needs, which means any fear of range anxiety is removed from the start.
As with most thing EV, Tesla was the first to popularize it, but now we have more models, both on sale and upcoming, capable of covering the same distance between charges. The one everyone's thinking about right now is the Chevrolet Bolt, but Renault has released a 200-mile ZOE as well, and Nissan is reportedly working on a LEAF that should clear the hurdle as well.
After being one of the main supporters of the liquid hydrogen fuel cell solution, the Koreans from Hyundai are now getting ready to launch a battery-powered version of their Ioniq sedan. The EV is expected to debut early next year and will come with a maximum EPA-certified range of 124 miles (that's 200 kilometers).
However, the Hyundai bosses are well aware that's not nearly enough anymore to persuade the public toward your brand, so Ahn Byung-ki, Hyundai's eco-vehicle performance group director, was quick to announce the company's plans. Quoted by Automotive News, he said that "124 is not enough, and we have a plan to extend that to more than 200 by 2018."
Of course, saying that is akin to taking next year's electric Ioniq off the market, because nobody in their right mind would ever buy a sub-par electric car knowing there's a better one coming just a little over a year away. But it just goes to show how important it was for Hyundai to let everyone know it was aware of its car's limitations and that it's working on it. They basically said "we know it's crap, but since it's ready, we're going to put it on sale anyway, just in case, until the improved version arrives."
The Hyundai Ioniq will be sold with three powertrain options: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-powered electric.
As with most thing EV, Tesla was the first to popularize it, but now we have more models, both on sale and upcoming, capable of covering the same distance between charges. The one everyone's thinking about right now is the Chevrolet Bolt, but Renault has released a 200-mile ZOE as well, and Nissan is reportedly working on a LEAF that should clear the hurdle as well.
After being one of the main supporters of the liquid hydrogen fuel cell solution, the Koreans from Hyundai are now getting ready to launch a battery-powered version of their Ioniq sedan. The EV is expected to debut early next year and will come with a maximum EPA-certified range of 124 miles (that's 200 kilometers).
However, the Hyundai bosses are well aware that's not nearly enough anymore to persuade the public toward your brand, so Ahn Byung-ki, Hyundai's eco-vehicle performance group director, was quick to announce the company's plans. Quoted by Automotive News, he said that "124 is not enough, and we have a plan to extend that to more than 200 by 2018."
Of course, saying that is akin to taking next year's electric Ioniq off the market, because nobody in their right mind would ever buy a sub-par electric car knowing there's a better one coming just a little over a year away. But it just goes to show how important it was for Hyundai to let everyone know it was aware of its car's limitations and that it's working on it. They basically said "we know it's crap, but since it's ready, we're going to put it on sale anyway, just in case, until the improved version arrives."
The Hyundai Ioniq will be sold with three powertrain options: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-powered electric.
Google News