Hyundai Unveils Its First Electric Car 'BlueOn'

SYDNEY – Sept 13, 2010: Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled the company’s - and Korea’s - first Full Speed Electric Vehicle (FSEV) named BlueOn, opening a new era in eco-friendly technology.

Based on Hyundai’s small i10 hatchback, BlueOn was developed over a one year period, with an investment of approximately 40 billion Won, or AUD$37.2m.

Innovative LiPoly Batteries
BlueOn has a compact body with an overall length of 3,585mm, overall width of 1,595mm and overall height of 1,540mm. It is equipped with a highly efficient electric motor powered by innovative 16.4 kWh LiPoly (lithium-ion polymer) battery technology that offers numerous advantages over other battery types. BlueOn boasts a maximum power of 61kW and maximum torque of 210Nm.

Pure electric vehicles only operate with a battery and electric motor, with the battery’s lifespan and storage capacity determining the vehicle’s performance. Hyundai has chosen to use LiPoly batteries over traditional nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) versions, as LiPoly delivers the same power with 30 percent less weight and 40 percent less volume. Not only does this increase vehicle efficiency, it provides increased useable interior cabin space for passengers.

Hyundai designed BlueOn to prevent overcharging and conducted hundreds of thousands of kilometres of endurance testing to ensure safety. BlueOn boasts a maximum speed of 130km/h, and acceleration of 0-100 km/h is achieved in 13.1 seconds, better than some petrol models in the same class.

Virtual Sound
BlueOn also features a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), which creates an artificial sound for the safety of pedestrians, as electric vehicles make very little noise when driving at low speeds.

Recharging
Able to travel as far as 140 km on a single charge, BlueOn accommodates dual recharging capabilities, either through a 220V household power supply or a 380V industrial-strength power supply, promising quick recharging speeds. When connected to a household power supply, the battery will be fully recharged within six hours, while under the ‘quick charge’ method the battery can be recharged to about 80 percent capacity within just 25 minutes. Hyundai will collaborate with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other government agencies to build recharging facilities.

In addition, the engine-driven components such as electric motor-driven power steering, electric water pump and regenerative brake systems have been engineered for BlueOn. For added driver convenience, an advanced telematics system showing the charge status and location of recharging stations is installed, while a 10.5cm TFT LCD Supervision Cluster provides voice guidance.

“We are proud to introduce the world to BlueOn, which was fully developed in Korea and displays Hyundai’s latest technological advancements,” said Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, Vice Chairman at Hyundai’s Corporate R&D Center. “Consumers’ interests and demand for eco-friendly cars are rising and securing such advanced technology is critical in becoming an industry leader. Hyundai is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and satisfying market needs.”

Hyundai Motor Company unveiled BlueOn in the presence of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, Ministers from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Ministry of Environment along with other government and electric-vehicle industry officials. During the unveiling ceremony, President Lee and Hyundai’s Vice Chairman Lee test drove one of the new vehicles.

Real world test fleet vehicles
Hyundai is planning to provide 30 BlueOn test fleet vehicles to a number of Korean government organisations over the next few months. The vehicles will be used to develop and test charging infrastructure over a two year period, and will be showcased during the G20 summit to be held in South Korea later this year.

Hyundai plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities for BlueOn next year, carrying out test production and manufacturing approx 2,500 units by the end of 2012.

The name BlueOn derives from Hyundai’s Blue Drive strategy, which encompasses the company’s eco-friendly products and technologies. The word ‘On’ symbolises “switch on.”