Hyundai Lays Out Hybrid and Fuel Cell Plans
11 September 2008
Chung Mong–Koo, Chairman & CEO of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) pledged that the automaker would boost its efforts to propel South Korea into the world´s top four green car producing nations. As part of this strategy, Hyundai Motor Company has announced that it will launch its first small hybrid car in July next year; the Elantra Hybrid LPI. (Earlier post.)
HKAG will expand this line–up to include mid–sized sedans and plans to produce 30,000 hybrid vehicles by 2010. HKAG will increase this number to 500,000 units by 2018.
HKAG also plans to commercialize Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) by 2012, producing 1,000 units that year and increasing the number to 30,000 units by 2018. In the long term, HKAG plans to produce one million units a year by 2030.
HKAG is planning to commercialize plug–in hybrids sometime after 2013 and is currently working on the development of the battery.
Gah! Thats I think the first time any car maker has actauly said how many fuel cell cars they realy planned to make.. 1 million a year by 2030 is a hell of alot more then I was thinking about.
Posted by: wintermane | 11 September 2008 at 06:58 AM
@Wintermane:
You have to add the 100 units that GM and Ford planned to produce.
That would make it 1 000 100 units a year.
Posted by: HarveyD | 11 September 2008 at 07:20 AM
Companies can only "see" 2-3 years out at most. Believe plans for dates of 2012 and earlier.
Do not believe a single word of any plan later than 2012, especially 2030.
I'm convinced that 100% electric will rule by 2030. There are no transportation of fuel issues and people enjoy filling up at home instead of making a stop to a smelly convenience store.
If we had a genie that converted all of our gas cars to electric in the blink of an eye, it would only add 10% to our power grid demand.
Posted by: TM | 11 September 2008 at 07:59 AM
They own Kia and they make a car that sells for less than $10,000. If they could make it a hybrid that sells for less than $20,000 they could clean up.
Posted by: sjc | 11 September 2008 at 01:06 PM
what a joke there making plans for tech
they dont have
Posted by: kev | 11 September 2008 at 01:13 PM
Is this still an LPG hybrid? The article doesn't really clarify it but if it's reasonably priced I think they'll sell a lot of them here in Australia.
Posted by: Tim | 11 September 2008 at 07:15 PM
Yes it is LPG powered..
Posted by: Herm | 11 September 2008 at 11:59 PM