Hyundai has revealed its first zero emission electric car i10 at the Frankfurt motor show. The car will get a test production run beginning next year in its home market Korea.

Hyundai i10 Electric weighs around 1000 kgs, impressive considering the normal IC car tips the scales somewhere around 900 kgs, and comes with Li-Polymer batteries which are 20% smaller in volume than the equivalent Lithium-ion batteries. The i10 electric is powered by a 49 Kw electric motor with 210 nm of torque. The battery pack supplies 16 kwh of electric power giving it a range of 160 kms before needing a recharge.

The car can be recharged upto 85% of its full capacity with in 15 minutes if used with a 413V industrial charger while it will take around 5 hours for a full charge on a normal 200V household outlet. The car does a 0-100 kph sprint in 15 seconds while the top speed is a respectable 130 kmph.

Other tech bits include a steering by wire system, brakes powered by an electrical vacuum pump which eliminates the need for a hydraulic system and an electric water pump to cool the battery and the electric motor.

Hyundai hasn’t announced the pricing details which will only be disclosed when it is launched officially.

Jump over for the Press Release.

Press Release

i10 Electric

At the Frankfurt Motor Show today, Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its i10 Electric, a zero emissions urban commuter vehicle which will see limited series production begin in 2010 starting with the Korean market.

With its low weight and advanced battery, the i10 Electric is capable of a driving range of 160km on a single charge, which is sufficient for most daily commuting needs. To arrive at a vehicle weight of 1000kg, x-by-wire systems have been developed to replace heavy hydraulic components, pulleys and drive belts that are commonly associated with conventional internal combustion engine cars. Steering, for example, is performed by wire while an electrical vacuum pump provides braking power. Motor and battery cooling duties are now handled by an electric water pump while the air conditioning compressor is also an electric type.

The fundamental architecture of the i10 Electric focuses on a high efficiency 49kWh electrical motor and a 16kWh battery using innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology that offers numerous advantages over other battery types.

The i10 Electric accommodates dual recharging cycles: a 220V household current which is slower but potentially advantageous if recharging is done during off-peak hours when utility rates are typically lower and 413V, an industrial strength current which promises quick recharging speeds. Under the quick cycle, the battery can be recharged to within 85 percent of its capacity within 15 minutes. Under the normal cycle using a 220V household current, 100 percent power will be attained within five hours of recharging.

The i10 Electric will incorporate advanced LiPoly batteries which are more durable and space-efficient than other batteries. Compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH), LiPoly delivers the same power with 30 percent less weight, 40 percent less volume and 12 percent greater efficiency.

LiPoly batteries offer more than twice the energy density of NiMH batteries, and 175 percent greater volumetric energy density, meaning Hyundai engineers can devote less space and weight to the battery pack. LiPoly batteries also hold their charge 20 times longer. They also are more resistant to changes in temperature, which improves cycle life. An their self-discharge rate is less than a third of a NiMH battery.

LiPoly has significant advantages over lithium-ion (Li-Ion) technology, including higher energy density and lower manufacturing costs. LiPoly is more resistant to physical damage and can handle more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade. LiPoly technology also offers significant advantages in thermal robustness and safety compared with typical Li-Ion batteries.

Additionally, Li-Poly delivers highly accurate state-of-charge information eliminating the guess-work and anxiety that are commonly associated with other battery types.

Another key difference between traditional Li-Ion batteries and Hyundai’s LiPoly solution is the overall superiority of LiPoly packaging. The LiPoly battery pack is about 20 percent smaller than a Li-Ion battery pack, making it much easier to change the cell footprint to fit the nooks and crannies of available vehicle space.

Hyundai has spent tens of thousands of hours testing the LiPoly battery system. This testing has proven that Hyundai’s LiPoly technology has greater thermal and mechanical stability than existing systems, meaning better safety. Thermal imaging testing shows LiPoly batteries run cooler compared to today’s NiMH or Li-Ion batteries.

Specifications

Dimensions (LxWxH)	3,565mm x 1,595mm x 1,550mm
Weight(Kg)	1,000
Aerodynamics(Cd)	0.33
Single Charge Driving Distance (0 – 100kph)	160 km (15.0 sec)
Top Speed	130km/h Type: High Efficiency Electric Motor
Motor	System voltage: 360V Max. Power: 49kW@11,500rpm Max. Torque: 210NM@2,670rpm Type: LiPoly [16kWh]
Battery	Fast Cycle: 413V 15min [85%] Normal Cycle: 220V 5 hours [100%]