Modern car choices explained.
Different options for different lifestyles.
Learn about the different electrified powertrain options and which best suits your personal lifestyle.
Let's start with the basics.
When you think about electrified vehicles (commonly referred to as EVs), you are probably thinking of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), an automobile that runs purely on electricity and uses a rechargeable battery to power an electric motor. Yet there are actually several types of electrified powertrains available on the market today, like those that combine an electric motor with a conventional internal combustion engine to create a Hybrid. Let's begin with some terms that are frequently used when we talk about electrified powertrains:
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Battery.
Together with the electric motor, the battery makes up the core of any electric vehicle. Batteries vary in capacity which influences charging times and reaches of a electric vehicles.
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Regenerative Braking.
Regenerative braking systems charge batteries by using the electric motor to slow the car. When decelerating or driving downhill, the generated energy is stored in the battery.
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Lifespan.
On average a lithium-ion polymer battery lasts eight to ten years, depending on how much you are driving. Reaching the lifespan doesn’t mean that the battery doesn’t function anymore, but the capacity falls to 70 to 80 percent and the range of the battery begins to decrease. Hyundai electric vehicle batteries are warrantied for 8 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
Which kind of electrified vehicle is right for you?
Three main types of electrified vehicles are available on the market today: Battery Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Electric Vehicles, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. There also are mild hybrid vehicles and electrified vehicles powered by fuel cells. Hyundai is currently the only manufacturer to offer all major electrified powertrains in production cars.
Fully-electric.
Fully-electric vehicles such as the Hyundai KONA Electric and IONIQ Electric don’t use any combustible fuel and driving is emissions-free. Because there is no clutch or gears, costly maintenance is reduced, and acceleration off the line is fast thanks to instant torque. That smooth and fast acceleration makes them a dynamic and exciting drive. Depending on the model, Hyundai offers electric vehicles with a reach from 311 to 484 km.
An EV is the right choice for you if, ...
the following factors are important to you.
Hybrid.
A Hybrid, or Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), is equipped with both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Depending on the driving situation, cars like the KONA Hybrid switch seamlessly between the electric motor and the conventional engine, sometimes utilising both at the same time. A regenerative braking system charges the battery by using the electric motor to decelerate the vehicle and recuperate energy. This stored energy then powers the electric motor to support the engine in acceleration, reducing fuel consumption as well as CO2 emissions.
A Hybrid is the right choice for you if, ...
the following factors are important to you.
Plug-in Hybrid.
A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) like the IONIQ Plug-in, gives you the best of both worlds. Electric when you want it. Petrol when you need it. Plug-in Hybrids have a larger battery (though not as large as a fully-electric vehicle's) on board, which can be recharged by plugging it in. And once the electric-only range is depleted, you can plug into a charging station – or just continue on with the petrol engine. The IONIQ Plug-in then operates as expected on a full hybrid drive system. Compared to a regular hybrid, plug-in hybrids provide a longer electric-only range, meaning that for shorter journeys you may not need to consume any fuel at all!
A plug-in hybrid is the right choice for you if, ...
the following factors are important to you.
