Hyundai's New LPG Hybrid Car

[RedEarth]

Hyundai's New LPG Hybrid Car
Hyundai plans to sell a LPG-electric hybrid in July 2009, promising cheapest operating costs of all
Hyundai's world first Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hybrid will go on sale in Korea twelve months from now with operating costs San-Diego-Symphony-Finances poised to be lowest of any hybrid currently available, despite being largely based on the existing Elantra model. It will also be the first to use Lithium-Polymer batteries to power its electric motor. The novel internal combustion powerplant is a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) 1.6 litre four cylinder assisted by a 15kW electric motor driving through a continuously variable transmission.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to start retail sales of its first LPG-electric hybrid Elantra in July 2009 and promises to be the cheapest of all currently available hybrid vehicles. The Elantra LPI HEV leverages Hyundai's vast knowledge of LPG-fuelled vehicles to develop a hybrid that will be very economical to operate. It promises to be as much as 40 percent cheaper to operate than other competitor models in the marketplace and 50 percent less than a conventional Elantra model powered by a petrol only engine, according to Hyundai. Those calculations are based on Korean domestic retail price of 1,907.08 KRW per litre of petrol and LPG price of 1,828.65 KRW per kilogram as of the first week of June 2008.

The Elantra LPI HEV will have a premium cost compared to a conventional Elantra due to the extra hardware (Li-Poly battery, DC motor and electrical control system). However, with the resulting fuel savings, Elantra LPI HEV buyers can expect to recover the extra cost of the vehicle in about two years according to Hyundai.

In addition, the Elantra LPI HEV emits just 103g/km of CO2 and 90 percent fewer emissions than an equivalent standard petrol powered Elantra to qualify as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).

The Elantra LPI HEV will be the first car in the world to use lithium polymer rechargeable batteries Rechargeable battery , which will be supplied by LG Chem, the world's fourth-largest rechargeable battery producer. Li-poly batteries have significant advantages over lithium-ion batteries including higher energy density, lower manufacturing costs, being more robust to physical damage and they can also take more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade.

................

Initial sales of the Elantra LPI HEV are to be restricted to the Korean domestic market. Hyundai is investigating export opportunities in markets with an excellent LPG distribution infrastructure, such as China and Australia.

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/jul2008/bw20080710_182945.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_lifestyle

[Bob Dobbs]

1. How much Hyundai stock does Pickens own?

Interesting announcement on the heels of t. boon pickens' bloviation on wind power that overshadowed his promotion of natural gas as a propellant for autos.

[RufusEarl]

2. Is this the first hybrid for the masses?

Peace!

[FredStembottom]

3. How does one refuel the LPV?

Is that something the local BBQ gas outlet has?

(I'm totally in the dark on this stuff):shrug:

[jaksavage]

4. Yes

Just pull up to a refilling station
and squirt it full of gas.
LP is cheaper than unleaded @ here.

[FredStembottom]

5. Oh for dumb!

Is that what LP gas is?
The LP means: Liquefied Petroleum?
I never knew that.
People here just say they need a tank of "LP Gas" for those big white tanks outside their homes.
I feel moderately stupid!:dunce:

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. California has 214 LPG stations or pumping stations it looks like.

California has 56 Biodiesel stations,
133 Compressed natural gas (CNG) stations,
5 E85 Ethanol stations,
324 Electric charging stations,
4 Hydrogen stations
10 Liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations


214 Liquefied propane gas (LPG) stations.





http://www.altfuelprices.com/reports/California_fill_stations.php