Hyundai & Kia To Bring Hybrids To US Next Year
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 07.29.05
Hyundai was not expected to bring hybrid vehicles to the US until after 2007, but the schedule for their introduction to North-America was moved up. Korean hybrids should be available late in 2006. The expected models are redesigned versions of the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio. A hybrid version of these cars are already being produced in Korea, but only in very small quantities (in the hundreds). Larger hybrids won't come from these automakers until 2008 or the beginning of 2009. The hybrid exports to the US seem more like an experiment than anything else: "The number that we ship to the United States will be very few, to see the reaction, I don't think we can make a profit with hybrids in the United States," said Lee Hyun Soon. No overflowing enthusiasm, but then again, Toyota didn't expect the Prius to sell this well either. I'm curious to know what kind of hybrid powertrain will be used; "assist" like Honda or "full" like Toyota.
::AutoWeek, via ::Green Car Congress
"The hybrid exports to the US seem more like an experience than anything else" ... did you mean "experiment"?
Oops. I'll correct it.
My understanding from a recent article was that Honda was going to change their hybrid system to a full hybrid method. I could be wrong, but I thought the original link came from here? It was a discussion with Honda about their improvements in upcoming motor efficiencies, etc.
Ken, you are probably thinking of this article:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/07/information_abo.php
Maybe I should have made it clearer, but Honda's new Civic hybrid won't be a full hybrid. The fact that they have added "cruising under light load on the electric motor only" is a step in that direction, but their motor still isn't powerful enough to move the car from a stop on its own and the motor is still connected to the ICE, even if the cylinders are empty when it works, it still has to spin it -- they are not independant from each other.
The best way, in my opinion, to know if a car is a full hybrid or not is to see if it could possibly be turned into an electric-only car with relatively minor modifications. The Prius could, the escape could. The Civic couldn't.
I hope Hyundai produces a hybrid Santa Fe. I have an '03 an I love it but would love it just as much if it were a hybrid.
I would buy a Sonata Hybrid today! I think a reasonably priced Sonata Hybrid would blow away the Camry and the Accord.
Tim C.