Hyundai Returns To Its Roots For First EV
Remember when Hyundai was famous for cheap, tiny hatchbacks instead of sculpted, Lexus-alike sedans? Though Hyundai’s first hybrid will be based on its popular Sonata, its first-ever EV is based on its old-school i10 hatchback. The AP reports that the BlueOn (remember, blue is the new green) will be delivered to Korean government fleets this year, with sales to the public starting in 2012. Hyundai hasn’t disclosed whether the BlueOn’s pricetag will be as old-school Hyundai as the i10, but with only 87 miles of EV range and 80 MPH from 16.4 kWh of Lithium-polymer batteries, it looks like low-cost city transport is the name of the game. But with a planned production volume of 2,500 units per year, the BlueOn shows how far Hyundai still has to come before catching up with the Nissans and Mitsubishis of the EV world. Then again, Hyundai’s come from behind before…
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It doesn't look like a winner. Maybe they can work out the bugs in this older package, then produce something nice. At least the low volume doesn't indicate delusions of grandeur. As the primary customer, I'll bet the Korean government is heavily subsidizing the development costs. Oh, and I hate it when mfrs lather EV graphics all over their concept cars as though they were college science projects.
gslippy: the Leaf looks a lot better. This car is not meant for the US, but for busy Asian downtowns though, where many cars are of this type anyway. If they can get superior mileage or price out of this smaller package, this thing may not do poorly in the non-US marketplace.
If it's based on the i10, it should be good.