(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Hyundai plans to begin Middle East deliveries of its Ioniq range of alternative fuel cars before the end of 2016.
First presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Ioniq is the first product Hyundai engineered from the ground up as a platform for alternative drivetrains. Rather than settle for one drivetrain, a shared vehicle architecture will accommodate a choice of three alternative fuel technologies: hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full electric.
Deliveries of the hybrid and full electric will begin in selected African and Middle East markets in the latter part of 2016, beginning with the GCC.
"There is now little doubt that alternative fuels will power the cars of the very near future, but the path from where we are now to where we need to be is still unclear," said Mike Song, head of operations for Hyundai Africa and Middle East. "We expect the industry will progressively move towards electric power as the cleanest, most efficient option, with the biggest question now being how do we generate and store the energy for electric motors?
"The Ioniq offers a selection of three proven technologies to meet the needs of different customers and markets," said Song.
The two hybrid Ioniqs both feature Hyundai's 1.6 litre Kappa GDI petrol engine, tailored to the hybrid application. In the full hybrid, the petrol engine is mated to a 32kW electric motor, the system delivering a combined 103.6kW of power and up to 265Nm of torque, while a 1.56kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery positioned under the rear seats enables pure electric driving and delivers instant torque. Targeted CO2 emissions is 79g/km for the full hybrid.
The full electric model dispenses with the petrol engine, and offers a 28kWh battery for an estimated 250km range before it needs recharging. Power is lower than for the hybrids at 88kW, but torque is higher at 295Nm. Emissions are zero at the tailpipe, with the overall figure depending on the electricity supply used for recharging.
Full electric batteries can be recharged from a standard household socket, and Hyundai has also unveiled a fast charger that can top up the battery to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes.
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