Genesis Going All Electric in 2025
Genesis presented its vision a sustainable future on Thursday and settled upon total electrification, just like every other automaker. Hyundai’s luxury component plans to become a “100-percent zero-emission vehicle brand by 2030” but foresees the need to wait until 2025 to transition its fleet entirely over to battery and hydrogen power.
Does it mean anything? If the automotive industry’s prior promises of automated driving and EV sales are anything to go by, probably not. However, electrification has gotten a major kick in the pants over the last few years as governments have ramped up regulator pressures and the sector has been flooded with money to help the cause. So there’s certainly a chance, just like when you play the lottery.
“Genesis has been on an intensive, bold and successful journey, successfully establishing itself as a truly global luxury brand,” stated Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung in a release. “Genesis is once again at the starting point of another audacious journey — the journey towards a sustainable future.”
But the hydrogen fuel cell aspect makes me worried. Hydrogen stations are few and far between, likely resulting in a future where Genesis has to sell a large portion of those vehicles to Californians, South Koreans, and the Japanese. Barring a sudden explosion in hydrogen refineries and fueling stations across the globe, FCEVs don’t have a chance of becoming mass-market automobiles. While the same could be said about battery electric vehicles, the charging infrastructure is growing beyond the confines of urban hubs and customers have the ability to recoup lost energy at home.
Though the company claims to be serious and has confirmed that 2025 will be the year that it drops the internal combustion engine entirely. It even provided a video experience to give us a taste of what that might look like.
Based on prior statements, the G80 sedan will be the first EV in Genesis’ lineup. It’s likely to be followed by the GV60 crossover, which is due by the end of 2022. There are also a few new designs in the video. But we cannot say whether they’re indicative of anything that might someday go on sale — even if Genesis hinted that they probably would be.
[Image: Genesis]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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“ However, electrification has gotten a major kick in the pants over the last few years as governments have ramped up regulator pressures and the sector has been flooded with money to help the cause.” Well that and much cheaper batteries, vastly expanded charging infrastructure, much higher performance…. But you knew that…
@pmirp1--Agree and that is one reason I ordered a new Maverick. I don't plan on getting a new vehicle or any vehicle for at least 10 years and maybe by then the infrastructure and less expensive and better batteries will be available. Also give it time for my affordable EVs which I believe over time will happen. I will keep what I have and run my other 2 low mileage vehicles for another 10 years and eventually downsize to 1 or 2 vehicles.