Hyundai Motors is pushing hard on many fronts to catapult itself to the top ranks of global automakers. (Business Week runs a good overview of the company’s quest in the 6 Sep 04 issue, focusing on the rollout of the Camry-competitor NF Sonata sedan.) An important element of its strategy is its work on green cars. (Earlier post.)

Hyundai has been partnering with US-based Enova Systems (formerly US Electricar) for years on the research and development of all electric, hybrid electric, and fuel cell drive systems. Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) took equity stakes in Enova, and in 2003 the companies opened the joint Hyundai Enova Innovative Technology Center.

The research center’s mission is to focus on the development of alternative energy products, including applications for electric, hybrid, fuel cell and solar power systems for vehicles, turbines and generators. Hyundai expects to benefit from Enova’s capabilities in power management and software controls.

It appears to be paying off. HHI has announced the development of its own electric motors for hybrid electric vehicles. (Joongang Ilbo.)

HHI has completed a 10-month performance test on the electric motor installed in a Tucson SUV. The Tucson is also the test platform for Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell work.

“With the development of the electric motors, substantially Korean hybrid electric vehicles can be produced,” said a Hyundai official.

Hyundai has already committed to production of its sub-compact Getz/Click hybrid for next year (earlier post) and is developing a hybrid version of its Verna sub-compact car. The new Verna model, tentatively called the MC, is expected to be out late next year as well. With the latest announcement from HHI, perhaps we will be seeing a hybrid version of the Tucson shortly thereafter.