Hyundai Motor previews HDC-6 NEPTUNE fuel-cell-electric truck concept and trailer

Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) released the first rendering images of its concept for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck, HDC-6 NEPTUNE.

Known for its leadership in fuel cell technology with integrated capabilities for the passenger and commercial vehicle markets, HMC will debut its latest commercial truck concept during this year’s North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta.

In addition, Hyundai Translead (HT) will also reveal its eco-friendly, high-performance refrigerated concept trailer solution, HT Nitro ThermoTech.

Supporting the company’s vision for a zero-carbon-emission fuel-cell truck, Hyundai’s name for its concept—HDC-6 NEPTUNE—recognizes the Roman god of the seas, Neptune, symbolizing the hydrogen-powered natural elements of the sea: the largest potential source of hydrogen fuel on Earth.

We have cemented the fuel cell technology leadership positon in the passenger vehicle sector with the world’s first commercially produced fuel cell EV and the second generation fuel cell EV, the NEXO. With the introduction of HDC-6 NEPTUNE, in addition to the road-proven Xcient fuel cell truck, we expand our technology leadership into the commercial vehicle sector by unveiling our vision of how fuel cell electric trucks can resolve the environmental equations of widely used commercial vehicles and our commitment to create a decarbonized society.

—Edward Lee, Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company

In addition to HDC-6 NEPTUNE’s unique construction, fuel-cell system and advanced in-cab technology, its modern design draws inspiration from the streamliner railway trainsets of the 1930s with its Art Deco function-driven style. Similarly, the HDC-6 NEPTUNE design team found new ways to combine both form and function to create an entirely unique new solution within the commercial vehicle industry.

Hyundai’s commercial offerings include trucks from Class 2 to Class 8 and buses which are manufactured in three international plants and currently sold in 130 countries around the world since 1970s.

Hyundai Motor Group develops world first active shift control for hybrids

Hyundai Motor Group has developed the world’s first Active Shift Control (ASC) transmission technology. The innovation optimizes transmission efficiency by monitoring gear shifts 500 times per second, precisely adjusting the transmission rotation speed to for faster shift times. The new technology will premiere in the upcoming Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and eventually benefit other upcoming Hyundai and Kia hybrids.

ASC applies new control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU), which then controls the electric motor to align the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission to reduce gear shift time by 30%. The technology also delivers smoother gear changes despite quicker shift times.

The development of world’s first ASC technology is a remarkable innovation which incorporates precise motor control to automatic transmission. It will not only save fuel but also provide a more fun driving experience for our customers.

—KyoungJoon Chang, Vice President and Head of Powertrain Control System Group of Hyundai Motor Group

Conventional hybrid vehicles do not have torque converters in order to further improve fuel economy as torque converters lose energy during the process of transmission. Although fuel efficient, such a system also requires longer shift times to ensure smoother gear changes.

ASC technology allows the hybrid’s electric motor to also take control of gear shifts by applying new software logic to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) to mitigate issues with slower shift time. The HCU monitors the rotational speed of transmission with a sensor installed inside the electric motor at 500 times per second to quickly synchronize the rotational speed with that of engine.

With the synchronization, shift time is reduced by 30% from 500ms to 350ms. This not only improves hybrid vehicle’s acceleration performance and fuel economy, but also durability of the transmission by minimizing friction during gear shift.

Hyundai Motor introduces electric double-decker bus

In Seoul, Hyundai Motor unveiled an electric double-decker bus—a first of its kind for Hyundai, and part of the company’s effort to help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

The all-new electric double-decker bus is being shown at the ‘Land, Infrastructure and Transport Technology Fair’ held in Korea, co-hosted by Hyundai and the national Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, lasting from 29 to 31 May.

To develop the company’s first electric double-decker bus, Hyundai worked for 18 months on a project supported by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, which began in 2017.

The bus allows up to 70 passengers—11 seats on the first floor and 59 seats on the second floor—1.5 times as many passengers as compared to that of a regular bus. Through the implementation of two fixed-in-space wheelchairs, an automatic sliding ramp and low floor design, the double-decker bus secures added accessibility for disabled and mobility impaired passengers.

As part of the company’s effort to increase efficiency and to reduce vehicle emissions, Hyundai equipped the all-new bus with a 384 kWh water-cooled high-efficiency polymer battery, with a maximum 300 km (186 miles) driving range on a single charge. A full charge can be completed in 72 minutes.

The large electric double-decker bus is 12,990 mm long and 3,995 mm high. It runs on an independent suspension system in the first driving axle for a more comfortable ride, and a 240 kW wheel motor axle combined with a motor in the second axle that minimizes loss of electricity. A rear-wheel steering system works in coherence with the steering system of the first axle, optimizing steering performance.

Various advanced safety features are also equipped on the bus to ensure the safety of the passengers:

• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) helps identify the driver’s intended driving direction and maintain the vehicle in control.
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) uses the car’s front-facing camera to help detect an imminent collision and avoid impact or minimize damage by braking autonomously.
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) helps prevent accidental lane departure by sensing road markings.

Hyundai Motor Group introduces industry-first smartphone-based EV performance control technology; blockchain

Hyundai Motor Group has developed smartphone-EV pairing-based performance adjustment technology which allows users to customize primary functions through a smartphone application—an industry-first innovation.

Drivers can use this technology to adjust seven performance features including the maximum torque output of the motor, acceleration and deceleration abilities, regenerative braking capacity, maximum speed limit, responsiveness, and energy use on climate control.

As electric vehicles continually expand their market share, especially in rental or car-sharing industries, the new technology will allow drivers to use their custom settings in whichever electric vehicle they drive by downloading their profile from the server.

The application provides optimized settings for a designated destination by analyzing the remaining distance and electric energy requirement. It can also accommodate sportier driving by recommending tailored performance settings.

Beyond the driver’s seat, users can share their customization settings online as well as try out other users’ custom settings. Customers can also apply recommended settings by Hyundai based on the condition of roads, from country roads to the city center or mountain ranges.

Hyundai Motor Group will utilize blockchain technology to prevent security issues while users upload and share their custom settings on the server.

In the process of uploading and sharing custom settings, the system encrypts major performance parameters in a blockchain network by creating new data blocks and stores them in the distributed data storage system to block unauthorized manipulation.

Hyundai Motor Group’s smartphone vehicle pairing-based performance adjustment technology is possible due to electric vehicles’ distinctive properties which set them apart from combustion engine vehicles.

Zero-emission vehicles offer unique freedom to modify the drive experience because altering performance doesn’t change the carbon footprint. As such, electric vehicles provide drivers more leeway in applying such technology.

As Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by year 2025, including 23 electric vehicles, we see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles. By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customized to individual preferences.

—research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group

The Group expects to implement the technology in future Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Hyundai Kona Electric Gets Shockingly Low Price Tag In US

This should really juice demand!

The Hyundai Kona Electric has been long awaited in the U.S. But, when it arrives here early next year, we now know how much it will cost: $36,450. If we subtract the $7,500 federal tax credit from that, we’re looking at a mere $28,950. Then, there are the various state incentives that can reduce that number even more. Californians, for example, could be looking at an overall starting price of just $26,450!

What buyers will get in return is a competent compact crossover with a 64-kWh battery pack that returns an impressive EPA-rated range of 258 miles. That’s the best range of any all-electric available in the U.S. that isn’t a Tesla. The Kona Electric will come in several trim levels and pricing for higher-spec versions will be announced soon, according to the Korean automaker.

We believe that, at this price level, demand for the Kona Electric should be pretty significant. Though we had worried that the supply from the Korean automaker might be somewhat limited, the company has, recently, said that it will satisfy the U.S. hunger for the vehicle.

This news confirms for us that 2019 will be an extremely interesting one with regards to how the different plug-in choices affect the market. Will, for instance, the competitive arrival of this Hyundai have a negative effect on sales of existing electric models like the Chevy Bolt, or will it help expand the market overall? Perhaps it will force other automakers to sharpen their pricing pencils or offer more features in their offerings.

Check out the official press blast below for all the details.

Hyundai Kona Electric

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2019 HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC PRICING CONFIRMS AN UNPRECEDENTED SUB-$30K ELECTRIC CROSSOVER VALUE WITH 258 MILES OF RANGE VIEW ONLINE

• Kona Electric Starts Below $30,000 with Available $7,500 Tax Credit 
• Generous 258-Mile Estimated Range Meets More Varied Lifestyle Needs 
• New Electric CUV offers Youthful Design, Sporty Driving Character, Leading Safety Technology and Advanced Infotainment Features in an Affordable, Compact Footprint 
• Abundant Suite of Standard Safety Equipment

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2018 – Hyundai today announced the starting price for its long-awaited 2019 Kona Electric convention-breaking electric crossover. The Kona Electric starting price is $36,450, for an effective net price of $28,950 ($29,995 including delivery), with the electric vehicle tax credit of $7,500 factored in. Customers may receive the available federal tax credit of up to $7,500, dependent on individual tax circumstances, yielding a sub-$30,000 net value.

Pricing for other Kona Electric trims will be announced shortly.
Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric models will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available in the beginning of 2019, with initial availability in California and subsequently in the ZEV-focused states in the western and northeastern regions of the U.S. market.

“Our new Kona Electric crossover is an exceptionally affordable, stylish and efficient compact electric CUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue eco-focused active lifestyles requiring generous range,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding value, range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity, and class-leading available safety features.”

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Hyundai Motor enters MoU with H2 Energy for 1,000 heavy-duty fuel-cell trucks and renewable hydrogen

Hyundai Motor Company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E). Beginning in 2019 and over a five-year period, Hyundai Motor and H2 Energy will provide 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks and an adequate supply chain for renewable hydrogen.

The fuel cell electric truck is being developed according to European regulations. It features a new 190 kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two fuel cell systems connected in parallel, also a feature of NEXO. It is expected to deliver a single-fueling travel range of approximately 400 km (249 miles), and in order to secure sufficient range, eight large hydrogen tanks are being compactly installed, utilizing areas such as between the cabin and the rigid body.

The fuel cell electric truck features a distinctive design. It is presented in a simple and clean design which is also aerodynamically efficient, and features a spoiler and side protector.

The front grille symbolizes hydrogen through geometric shapes, giving the vehicle a unique and powerful look. The vehicle emanates an eco-friendly look with a blue color application and a bold side body graphic on the container, which also visualizes its dynamic character.

The supply of a fleet of fuel-cell electric trucks to H2 Energy marks Hyundai Motor’s first expansion of its FCEV leadership into the eco-friendly commercial vehicle sector. Hyundai introduced the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle, the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2013, and released NEXO FCEV this year.

The MOU signing ceremony took place in the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 exhibition’s convention center and was attended by key individuals from each company, including Hyundai Motor’s Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Division, In Cheol Lee, as well as Chairman of H2E, Rolf Huber.

H2 Energy is a company specializing in the production and supply of renewable hydrogen in Switzerland, with business subsidiaries in Germany, Norway and Austria. The company is experienced in the roll-out of an optimized hydrogen ecosystem, which focuses on commercial viability for all stakeholders.

H2 Energy plans to make Hyundai’s fuel cell electric trucks available to its Swiss customers starting with the dedicated members of the Swiss H2 Association, which includes several refueling-station operators, retailers and other customers focusing on eco-friendly innovative solutions for logistics and goods distribution.

To cater to growing opportunities in the sector, Hyundai plans to diversify its fuel cell electric commercial vehicle line-up. Currently under development is the medium-sized fuel cell electric truck (Payload: 4~5 ton) which can be used in the public services domain such as vehicles used for cleaning.

Hyundai Motor also introduced fuel cell electric express buses during the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea last February and is currently conducting a pilot operation with fuel cell electric buses in South Korea’s major cities, whilst reviewing plans for mass production by 2020.

Domestically, FCEV taxis and car-sharing services are operating on public roads in Ulsan and Gwangju.

Hyundai Motor began the first fuel cell electric vehicle lease in the United States, also supporting its wider transport industry, including FCEV taxis, and car-sharing services to further support the spread of eco-friendly technology usage.

Hyundai Kona Electric SUV Will Offer Two Batteries, Up To 210 Mile Range

In the car business today, you either build crossover SUVs and light pickup trucks or you go home. And if you really want to sell electric cars, you target them fit into those market segments. Hyundai has three SUVs in its model lineup — the Tucson, Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Sport — but none of them goes head to head with the hottest selling compact crossovers — the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R,  and Jeep Renegade. The new Hyundai Kona is supposed to fill that gap in the lineup and will be the first electric SUV from the Korean manufacturer.

The standard Kona is of little interest to the rabid electric car fans who frequent Gas2, but it will  have a battery electric version that will get the attention of EV fans. At first, the reports out of South Korea were that the electric Kona would have a 40 kWh battery, which most American car buyers would consider too small for their needs.

But now comes word that Hyundai will offer a larger 64 kWh battery in the Kona. So equipped, it will have 500 kilometers of range. Convert that to miles and adjust for the optimistic European test cycle and you wind up with an electric SUV that should have an EPA range of about 210 miles. Now we’re talking. That puts it close to the range of the Chevy Bolt (238 miles) and the base model Tesla Model 3 (220 miles). Base price of the Kona Electric with the larger battery is projected to be a whisker under $40,000 when it arrives in the US next year.

What is interesting about the Kona is that much of its powertrain comes from LG Chem, the same folks who provide the motor and battery for the Chevy Bolt. In fact, the motor for the Kona is the same 204 horsepower unit found in the Bolt. The battery size of the Kona is just slightly larger than that supplied to General Motors for use in the Bolt.

GM has just made a major announcement that it will have two new electric cars on offer within the next 18 months. As suppliers become more involved in the manufacturing process, some convergence between models should be expected. Will the Kona and one of the new GM electric car models be twin sons of different mothers? Could be.

When it gets here, the Kona Electric will have a full complement of electronic safety features and upgraded charging that will let it take advantage of the 150 kW chargers expected to become part of the charging infrastructure in coming years. It may not be suitable for the Rubicon Trail (few vehicles are, regardless of the macho stickers on their flanks) but it could be just what many shoppers want — an all electric crossover SUV that looks the part and has more than 200 miles of range. Bring it on!

Source: Side3 News, Norway  Hat Tip: Leif Hansen

Test Driving The Hyundai Ioniq Electric

All electric range: 124 miles
MPGe: 136 average: 150 city / 122 highway
On-board charging speed: 6.6 kW J1772 – Level 1&2,
Motor power: 118 horsepower | 88 kW
Torque: 218 lb-ft
Battery capacity: 28 kWh
Battery type: Lithium-ion polymer battery
Base price: $29,500 USD

First impressions 

At first glance, the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is an unassuming 5 door Hyundai that blends in with the rest of the fleet. A closer look reveals a streamlined grille that has been smoothed over with a sleek cover to improve aerodynamics. It guides air it no longer needs for cooling around the vehicle as efficiently as possible. The grill and subtle electric model badging are the only aesthetic touches on the outside that hint at the completely different beast that lies within.

Starting at a hair under $30,000 USD, and with its 124 miles of all electric range, the real question with the Ioniq is whether or not Hyundai packed enough technology and efficiency into the Ioniq for it to compete with the inevitable wave of 150–200+ mile range electric vehicles just around the corner. It is currently only available in California. As such, it is unable to truly compete with the likes of the Chevy Bolt, the Nissan LEAF, and the Tesla Model 3.

Driving Experience

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric joins the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, with the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid coming soon to complete the youngest family in Hyundai’s eco vehicle fleet. The Ioniq Electric is also the brand’s first foray into fully electric vehicles. Sporting more electric range than the first set of mass-market electric vehicles on the market, the Ioniq sports 124 miles of all electric range that allow it to more seamlessly blend into the lives of even more drivers around the world.

The real-world range is further stretched by its astonishing 150 MPGe around town and 122 on the highway, helping to reveal just how economical this car truly is. This translates to an extremely low cost to drive, with the Ioniq averaging just over 5 miles per kWh. At the same time, the Ioniq will be able to take on more range per hour of charging, which makes charging while out running around that much easier.

The impressive efficiency of the Ioniq does not come at the expense of performance but rather, Hyundai’s engineers programmed their way around it with 3 driving modes that allow drivers to choose their own adventure depending on how their day is going. Stressful day at work and need to take the long way home to blow off some steam? Sport mode is your best friend. It does not turn the Hyundai into a sports car, but it does give the pedal more pep and response, especially from around 20 miles per hour. On the flipside, Eco mode does as you would expect and tames down the accelerator response as a means of maximizing efficiency. As with most EVs, I found Eco mode extremely therapeutic, as it seems to bring the noise level of life down a few clicks — and with that, it slows my heart rate.

The Ultimate package brings with it a suite of active safety and driving technology solutions that further emphasize the high-tech feel of the car. Do not interpret this as a suite of technology that compares to Tesla’s Autopilot, the current high bar in automotive driving technology packages, but do know that Hyundai has put forth a serious technology suite that improves the safety of the vehicle and improves the driving experience at the same time. The driving technologies include: Traffic Aware Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and headlights that follow the road.

Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC) continues to be one of my favorite driving technologies in today’s production vehicles, and its implementation in the Ioniq is superb. It allows the driver to truly “set [the cruise control speed] and [almost] forget it.” As with traditional cruise control, the driver simply sets the cruise control speed and can then adjust the buffer distance from the car in front. TACC takes over from there and maintains the follow distance using a set of forward-facing radar sensors. It worked flawlessly on the freeway, even bringing the car all the way to a stop several times when I hit traffic. I truly beat on the system, looking for it to fail, but could only get it to budge on the back roads behind Ojai, California, in conditions the system clearly was not designed for.

Exterior

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for what appears to be a tame, fairly vanilla exterior, the Ioniq has proven to be a polarizing design for many. From the side, it looks like many of Hyundai’s vehicles – functional with a sporty undertone. Sliding around front, the vehicle’s personality starts to come out. The location where the grill used to reside has been stylishly covered over with a sleek nose cone that brings out most of the feedback about the vehicle. It screams modern, different, and futuristic all in unison.

Hopping around to the rear of the vehicle, the modern design cues continue thanks to bold angles and LED tail lights. The design is not as severe and polarizing as that of the newest Prius, but it is enough to pull favor with the younger crowd.

Interior

Stepping inside the Ioniq we tested, which came with the Ultimate Package, revealed a high-tech, feature-packed vehicle that feels much more like a smartphone than a traditional automobile interior. It speaks technology fluently with the 8” touchscreen LCD bilingual in Android Auto and Apple Carplay, depending on which side of the fence your personal device resides on. The navigation is on par with the suite provided by most automotive manufacturers and is lackluster though functional.

The exterior of this aggressively postured vehicle might lead one to believe that it is cramped and tight inside, but my 6’2”, 200lb frame had no issues with the space. I found it to be roomy in the passenger compartment and heard the same from my two boys (ages 6 and 7) about the rear area. They loved the flip-down center console in the rear and claimed it was their top choice of all the vehicles we have driven. Take that for a grain of salt, as some variant of that message comes out with nearly every vehicle driven.

Flipping to the rear of the vehicle reveals a cargo compartment that is sufficient but by no means voluminous. It was fine for just about anything we would throw at it in the course of a normal week, but when I flipped down the split rear seats and put the vehicle to the test for a larger haul, I found it to be lacking. It was fine for hauling a kid’s bike and a few odds and ends but would strain with larger loads. That said, it is not a truck, so don’t expect it to be capable of truck duties and you won’t likely be disappointed.

Safety

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric has yet to receive an official safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but comes with a full complement of safety features that you would expect on comparable vehicles. The ability for safety-conscious drivers to upgrade to a full suite of active safety features is nice, but Hyundai should follow the trend of other automotive manufacturers and include all safety features as standard offerings.

All the Electric Specs

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric comes with a standard 6.6kW J1772 port that provides a full charge in around 4 hours as well as 100kW compatible SAE Combo DC Fast Charging capability that can amp up the battery in a staggering 23 minutes. It is worth noting that most public DC Fast Chargers are either 20kW or 50kW today, which makes Hyundai building in 100kW compatibility that much more impressive. Being able to top up in a tad longer than 20 minutes is an impressive feat for a vehicle that packs in this kind of range.

The Ioniq’s 28kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is not such a massive increase versus its peer group, but the car takes that capacity to the next level with its world-class efficiency. The 5 miles per kWh I achieved over hundreds of miles of real-world testing was a mix of city and freeway driving and surprisingly came in a bit higher than the car’s rated 4 miles per kWh (25 kWh per 100 miles). The EPA rolled those two together and came out with an official rating of 124 miles per charge — though, I typically found the meter pegging out at 150 miles when fully charged. This played out in the real world with several trips averaging over 5 miles per kWh, including one 128-mile trip that was primarily highway driving and came out to 5.1 miles per kWh.

Regeneration

When it comes to efficiency, regeneration — or the ability for the car to use the motor to slow the vehicle, recovering spent electricity in the process — is perhaps one of the least discussed and undervalued pieces of the equation in electric vehicles. EVs can recover a significant portion of the energy spent getting the car moving with regeneration (aka regen), and the way it is implemented not only affects the overall efficiency of the vehicle, but also the behavior of the accelerator pedal.

The Ioniq’s high efficiency is a testament to an intelligent implementation of regen, among other things. Beyond being effective, the system allows the driver to choose one of four regeneration levels ranging from free rolling all the way up to a very intense deceleration that actually triggers the brake lights. This is in accordance with regulation that dictates when the brake lights must activate but speaks to the intensity of the regen. The highest regen still does not have the capability to bring the vehicle to a complete stop like the regen of the Chevy Bolt, but it does allow for the vast majority of the driving to be handled with just the accelerator pedal.

Summary

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is a well-designed, modern electric vehicle with range and efficiency that open up electric vehicles to more customers than ever before. After the federal, state, and city incentives available in many areas around the world, the efficiency of the Ioniq make it one of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market today.

Hyundai-Kia: eight electric cars by 2022, dedicated EV platform

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric - frame from video road test

It's long been said in the auto industry that Hyundai-Kia is the only competitor that truly scares industry colossus Toyota.

Thirty years ago, the Korean company was a bit player, producing designs adapted from obsolete Mitsubishi technology.

Today it's a major global player, reacting fast to market swings—and its goal is to be second only to Toyota itself in global production of green cars by 2020.

One more example of Hyundai's adaptation to changing market conditions came today in an announcement Thursday that it would place electric cars at the center of its future product strategy.

As part of that shift, it will expand its portfolio of battery-electric vehicles to newly independent luxury brand Genesis, which will get a long-range electric car to compete directly with Tesla as well as several future German electric models.

The new Hyundai electric car will be a luxury sedan to arrive in 2021, according to a Reuters report early Thursday that expanded on the Hyundai release.

2017 Kia Soul EV

The future Genesis competitor for the Tesla Model S may be the company's first "long range" electric vehicle (meaning 200 to 300 miles on a charge), but it won't be the last.

Before that, an all-electric Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover utility vehicle will launch next year, perhaps with a range of 125 to 200 miles.

The combined Hyundai and Kia brands have added three further models to their green-car lineup (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electrics, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles), for a total of 31 separate vehicle versions by 2020.

In 2014, when Hyundai announced its plan to become the world's second-largest maker of green cars by 2020, just two of 22 planned models were to be pure battery-electrics.

Now, fully eight of the expanded roster of 31 cars will be all-electric, with the Hyundai Ioniq Electric and Kia Soul EV already in production jointed by the battery-powered Kona and an all-electric Kia Niro that may replace the Soul EV.

While Hyundai also released images of its future hydrogen-powered large crossover vehicle, which will be formally unveiled next year, only two of the planned 31 vehicles will use fuel cells.

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric (European spec), 2016 Geneva Motor Show

The company also confirmed earlier reports that it would create its first dedicated electric-car platform, a strategy so far only followed by General Motors (with its Bolt EV and future derivatives), Tesla, and arguably Nissan for its Leaf.

Some coverage of Hyundai's announcement has presented it as a strategic shift, but it can be more accurately viewed as an evolution and expansion of the company's green-car plans.

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric, launched over the last 12 months in several markets around the world, has proven more popular than expected, Hyundai says, leading to short supplies in several countries.

With 124 miles of EPA-rated range, the electric Ioniq combines a conventional and intuitive interior design with a high-tailed hatchback body that doesn't particularly read as either "green" or "electric."

That may be a winning combination, and Hyundai's use of its underpinnings for a conventional hybrid (the highest volume model by far) and a plug-in hybrid variant as well should provide economies of scale.

Hyundai is historically strong in value for money even as new generations of its cars and crossovers go from strength to strength, and the Ioniq may be viewed as a cost-effective alternative for buyers who dislike the latest Prius design.