Hyundai and Kia turn Up EV efficiency with new heat pump technology

Hyundai_Heatpump02

The Hyundai motor group has been developing eco friendly vehicles for 30 years. Their experience shows just how far alternative fuel cars have come.  David Brown has some figures.

Hyundai’s first electric concept vehicle released in 1991 was based on the Sonata sedan, it featured a lead-acid battery and offered a range of just 71km, and a top speed of only 60km/h.

Getting the most out of an electric vehicle needs good batteries but also managing the power situation of the whole car.

A concern with electric vehicles is that energy used to heat the interior in cold weather reduces the range of the vehicle, but Hyundai’s system, to be part of all their EVs, uses the heat from the batteries; a similar principle to a fossil fuel car using heat from the radiator.

The latest Hyundai Kona SUV electric vehicle has a range, rated at 449km.

Motoring Minutes are heard around Australia every day on over 50 radio channels through the Torque Radio networkMotoring Minutes have an average daily audience of over 150,000 listeners. Motoring Minutes are also broadcast as part of Overdrive Radio Program, which is broadcast through the Community Radio Network across Australia and has a weekly audience of over 450,000. 

About David Brown 607 Articles
David’s boyhood passion for motor cars did not immediately lead to a professional role in the motor industry. A qualified Civil Engineer he specialised in traffic engineering and transport planning. What followed were various positions including being seconded to a government think-tank for the planning of transport firstly in Sydney and then for the whole of NSW. After working with the NRMA and as a consultant he moved to being an independent writer and commentator on the broader areas of transport and the more specific areas of the cars we drive. His half hour motoring program “Overdrive” has been described as an “informed, humorous and irreverent look at motoring and transport from Australia and overseas”. It is heard on 22 stations across Australia. He does weekly interviews with several ABC radio stations and is also heard on commercial radio in Sydney. David has written for metropolitan and regional newspapers and has presented regular segments on metropolitan and regional television stations. David is also a contributor for AnyAuto