Hyundai Taking Pre-Launch Orders for Elantra LPI Hybrid

NORTH RYDE, AUSTRALIA – June 17, 2009: 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.