Only a few days after Toyota announced it would bring Prius hybrid to Korean market, Hyundai-Kia’s Chairman, Mr. Chung Mong-koo, revealed some facts about the company’s current hybrid car development and future plans. The announcement was made during his visit of Kia Motor’s factory in Gwangju, a Hyundai spokesman said.
Although the auto giant’s plans to launch hybrid electric cars in 2009 had been known of for some time, until recently the group has been focused more on luxury segments and fending off foreign carmakers than on pursuing eco-friendly technologies.
To secure new growth engine for the future, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group plans to spur on its hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell projects. Chung said that the need to develop eco-friendly auto technologies is becoming greater and that hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies will form the basis of the automotive industry’s growth!
The company’s first electric hybrid car will be badged as Hyundai and will be based on Avante (Elantra) sedan. Surprisingly, Hyundai’s first hybrid vehicle will combine an electric motor with a LPG-liquefied petroleum gas-driven engine. It is believed to be the world’s first LPG hybrid car. The company then plans to expand the hybrid line-up to a mid-sized hybrid vehicle (Sonata) and other LPG-electric and gasoline-electric hybrids in 2010.
Hyundai’s sister brand, Kia, also is preparing new hybrid models. The company is researching a hybrid version of the Mohave, a large sport utility vehicle (SUV) to be named Borrego overseas, and Lotze (Optima), a mid-size 4-door sedan. Kia plans to market their hybrid vehicles by 2010.
Besides the hybrids, Chung also announced that Hyundai-Kia Group plans to mass-produce hydrogen fuel cell cars by 2012. The automaker first developed fuel cell vehicles in 2000 but the technology is still in its infancy. Find more informations about Kia fuel cell vehicle development here…
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April 7th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I knew the Korean government has some hybrids that I guess are testing, but this is good news that they’re planning to expand the line to include the Borrego and Optima. Though they mention the Korean names (Mohave and Lotze), so are these hybrids still only for Korea?
Also, “… HKG plans to mass-produce hydrogen fuel cell cars by 2012.” Really?! I knew Honda, BMW and GM were in the fuel cell market, but definitely wasn’t aware of Hyundai-Kia! Good luck to them on the development and mass production! Though I still stand by my previous bias towards diesel powered vehicles in the USA. And a diesel mild-hybrid (like the eco_cee’d) would be nice…
April 7th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
If Kia really develops hybrids, then they will offer them on overseas markets. This article is based on Korean report and writer used Korean car names.
But, I’m confused now a little bit. Alex Fedorack (Kia USA) said that Kia is more interested in clean diesels than hybrids and that we are gonna see the Borrego diesel as soon as next year, or 2010. He sounded like Kia will not offer hybrid Borrego any time soon. Why not selling both, clean diesel powered Borrego and Borrego hybrid?!
Regarding the fuel cell tech. Hyundai-Kia is one of the leaders and has perhaps the most advanced fuel cell drivetrain among all automakers. Their cars can start bellow zero temperatures and offer almost 600km range with one tank only. These are two major hurdles other automakers still strive to overcome…
Jason: Here are a few links where you can read more about Hyundai-Kia fuel cell vehicle development:
http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/12/05/hyundai-kia-accelerates-to-churn-out-clean-cars/
FCEV Sportage: http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/11/20/sportage-fcev/
http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/09/21/looking-into-a-green-future/
Kia’s FCEV platform: http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/09/11/kias-all-new-hydrogen-platform-makes-european-debut/
These articles are very interesting read and after reading you’ll have more clear insight of how far H-K has come at fuel cell field already!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I went to the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) this year and they (Kia) had the new 3.0L “clean diesel” engine on display. It said it’d be available in the 2010 Borrego. This would make the Borrego available with 3 engines: the 3.8L and 4.6L gasoline/ petrol, and the 3.0L diesel. Perhaps they don’t want another engine option, since there are currently only 2 engine options in 3 of their products (USA at least): Sportage, Rondo and Optima. Borrego having 3 options will be the first vehicle to do that, and having 4 options is out of the question. Or, more likely, since the hybrid they have in production right now (that the Korean government uses) are Rio and Accent based. I’m not sure the engine size on those, but I’d guess 1.4L or 1.6L. They’d need a bigger motor and battery pack to handle the Borrego’s much larger/ higher weight in a hybrid set-up. Perhaps there will be a hybrid in the next 10 years for it? I imagine in the near future every internal combustion engine (ICE- gasoline/ petrol and diesel) vehicle will at least be a mild-hybrid, having regen brakes and electric A.C., power steering and coolant pump, and engine shut off at idle and low speed/ cruising. At least, it’s my hope that they all will. I hate sitting at a traffic light with the engine idling, or going down a steep hill and knowing the engine doesn’t need to do anything, or braking and knowing regen brakes would last longer and help charge the battery/ capacitor pack.
It actually bothers me that Kia hasn’t spoken up (at least in the USA) about their fuel cell work. Honda and GM are the two that seem to have the most publicity, with BMW mentioning their 7 series. I’m not a huge fan of the fuel cell concept, at least not at it’s current status (super expensive cost, amount of pollution that would be created to produce and transport the hydrogen to the fill station, lack of hydrogen infrastructure), but it’s still a technological development that they should be putting out media reports or something to inform the general public. From my experience as a Kia employee (or at least a dealership employee), Kia seems to be known as a low cost car with a problematic history. They’re not aware of the improvements in quality and reliability, or it’s industry leading warranty, and definitely not that it’s involved in hybrid research, fuel cell development, etc. Heck, I am an internet hound and just today found out about their involvement in the fuel cell field! Kia- help boost your brand image, tell the world of what you’re doing!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
O thats great! even on borrego now. they could be the sheapest hybrids on the market! GO KIA!!!
April 7th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I was there too! What day were you there??
April 8th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Hey Greg…. I was there, I think on January the 22nd, a Tuesday. I know it was a Tuesday. I don’t know when you were there (what time), but I’d definitely recommend taking a day off from work, school, etc. to have a lot of room for movement. After probably 5pm the place was packed, and when we were leaving there was a huge line out the door to get in. We when got there, probably early afternoon, we walked straight in, no lines or anything. I spent a lot of time at the Kia showcase speaking with Dexter, he was one of the Kia reps. And I think he really works for Kia, contrary to most of the eye candy people the companies put in that have no clue what to say when you ask a question beyond what they’ve been trained to answer. I stumped someone at just about every company’s showcase!
April 8th, 2008 at 2:54 am
I was the first person from the public in the place at 9:00 AM exactly Saturday, January 19, 2008 I was first in line, and first in the building!
April 8th, 2008 at 3:09 am
There was a pretty girl that really knew a lot about Kia at the showcase. She could not stump me! I know everything about Kia! The worked for Kia, and had personally met Len Hunt. Wait….do I have a pic? Yep, I have a pic:
http://www4.slikomat.com/08/0408/igr-HPIM19.jpg
April 8th, 2008 at 8:01 am
OK. downloaded the Firefox and now hope this works:
Its really good that Kia is going to extend their hybrid to a large SUV which is probably the most pollutive in KIA’s lineup. GO ON KIA!
April 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I don’t remember seeing her, though there were some attractive ladies at the showcase. I’m definitely looking forward to next year, and not just for the ladies
April 11th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Jason, appreciate your comments! I have read some press reports on Hyunda/Kia’s fuel cell developments, but they seem to be seldom-ly published. They should make some more visible shouts out about this research and development work. Their ICE vehicles are hard to beat in competition with other manufacturer’s right now(for the common working person)and I know they will shine at making alternatiove energy source vehicles for the masses, too. I need to read up on the latest fuel cell information, for sure.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:51 am
If Kia can market an Optima hybrid in America by 2010, and still keep the price somewhere in the range of current mid-size competitors from Honda/Toyota/Nissan, they may find themselves in a verrrry nice sales position . A hybrid drivetrain in the Optima might be the real deal ??
April 12th, 2008 at 7:59 am
how many hybrids are there in the C segment?
April 12th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
a rio hybrid is not really going to sell to well in the states. I think it would be smart to make a hybrid spectra. Just large engough for 4 adults and still get like 40-50 mpg.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
exactly my point. C-segment hybrid will really help. Even better on spectra as its Kia’s largest seller.
April 12th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Right on, men. And the ’09 Kia Spectra is gonna be a knockout, which won’t hurt matters much, either. Kia outshines companies like Honda and Toyota so much in the looks department, but really needs to up the mpg in their rigs to up sales in the States. A hybrid Optima? A good idea, but a hybrid ’09 Kia Spectra really hits the spot.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
exactly. it would be wiser to make their biggest seller hybrid
April 12th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Don`t disagree about the merit of a hybrid Spectra but still think the mid-size market in America could also really go for a “fuel efficient” car ( and cease focussing on supposed ” hp bragging rights”). Interestingly enough, Kia has stayed away from the “hp wars” in the Optima to this date, whatever the rationale.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:15 am
And they’ve received some ill-advised abuse from enthusiasts over this supposed glaring deficit of engine power in the Optima. I disagree with the criticisers and feel that Kia has aptly outfitted the Optima with enough power as they have and with the 4-cyl Optima performance is up-to-snuff-enuff as they’ve built it. It’s fine as is, but the new Optima body design still has to grow on me a bit. I still prefer the “older” Optima bodystyle at this point. But I think that may change with time.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Bryan, I agree totally with you on both counts!! Nothing irks me more than to read some of the garbage put out by the so -called “enthusiasts” – especially those who go further and maintain that evcessive hp is a vital ingredient for “safety” —— what a joke !
November 7th, 2008 at 8:03 am
If Kia is smart, they will under cut the Toyota Highlander Hybrid with the Borrego. If they send the disel Borrego it will not sale many units. Other companies will import more fuel efficient cars around this time.