Hyundai Taking Pre-Launch Orders for Elantra LPI Hybrid

Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, began taking pre-launch orders for its Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), its first hybrid vehicle for commercial sale.

Hyundai will accept pre-launch orders until July 7, a day before it officially introduces the car in the South Korean domestic market.  The car, which is the world’s first hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine, was first unveiled at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April.  To be sold under the Avante badge in Korea, the LPI HEV will ensure eco-friendliness as well as economical operating costs and differentiated design.

Powered by an LPI ‘Gamma’ engine displacing 1.6 litres, a 15 kW (105 Nm) electric motor and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Elantra LPI HEV emits just 99 g / km of CO2 and 90 percent fewer emissions than an equivalent standard 1.6 litre petrol powered Elantra to qualify as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).  Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), often referred to as auto gas, is a low carbon emitting hydrocarbon fuel which burns more cleanly than petrol or Diesel.

In addition, the Elantra LPI Hybrid is a mild–type hybrid+, with a fuel economy rating of 5.6 litres / 100 km (or gasoline equivalent of 4.5 litres / 100 km).  This represents a 47 percent improvement over a conventional 1.6 litre Elantra with automatic transmission.  It’s even cheaper to operate as the average price of LPG in Korea is 50% less than that of gasoline.

Elantra LPI Hybrid is also the world’s first hybrid vehicle to adopt advanced Lithium Ion Polymer rechargeable batteries that have higher energy density, lower manufacturing costs, are more robust to physical damage and can also take more charge–discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade than Lithium Ion Batteries.  The technology and all key components in the Elantra LPI HEV have been developed by Hyundai and its local partners including the motor, battery and low DC/DC converter.

Elantra LPI HEV Specifications

Hybrid Type	Flywheel-mounted motor-generator parallel type (mild)
Length (mm)	4,505
Width (mm)	1,775
Height (mm)	1,490
Wheelbase (mm)	2,650
Tyres	Low-Rolling Resistance
Engine	In-line 4, 1.6 litre Gamma All-Aluminium (Atkinson Cycle*)
Bore x Stroke	77.0 mm x 85.44 mm
Compression Ratio	12:1
Cylinder Head	DOHC 16-Valve
CVVT	Single-Type (Intake)
Maximum Power	84 kW @ 6,000 rpm
Maximum Torque	148 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
Acceleration 0-100km/h	11.5 sec
Transmission	CVT with Metal V-Belt & Multi-Disc Wet Clutches for Start-Up
Electric Motor	Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
Maximum Power	15 kW
Maximum Torque	105 Nm
Maximum Speed	6,000 rpm
Batteries	Lithium Ion Polymer Forced Air Cooling
Voltage	180 V
Capacity	5.3 Ah
Tyres	185/65 R15 (STD) 195/65 R15 (OPT) Low-Friction
Fuel Economy	5.6 litres / 100 km (4.5 litres / 100 km gasoline equivalent)
CO2 Emissions	99 g / km
Emissions Classification	SULEV
Top Speed	188 km / h
Steering	Motor-Driven Power Steering
Weight	1,297 kg
Fuel Tank (L)	45.2
Suspension	(F) McPherson Strut
	(R) Multi-Link

+Note: A mild-type hybrid is not capable of using the electric motor to propel the vehicle by itself.  The electric motor works together with the engine to mobilise the car.  A hard-type hybrid, or full-hybrid, provides assistance to the engine, but can also run in pure electric mode.

*Note: Compared to the more prevalent Otto Cycle four-stroke combustion engine, the Atkinson Cycle has a power stroke which is longer than the compression stroke and is widely adopted by designers of Hybrid powertrains due to the increase in fuel economy it provides.

Internal combustion engines can be divided into several categories according to the combustion principles: Otto Cycle, Miller cycle, Lenoir cycle, Atkinson cycle, Brayton / Joule cycle, Diesel cycle and Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition.