FOUNDATION FOR AN ELECTRIFIED FUTURE
Hyundai’s innovative modular platform will underpin 23 new BEVS in coming years
Hyundai recently revealed its Electric- Global Modular Platform (or E- GMP), a dedicated battery electric vehicle architecture that will serve as the foundation for 23 battery electric vehicles (BEVS) the Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce worldwide by 2025 under the Hyundai, Ioniq and Kia nameplates.
Hyundai launched its dedicated Ioniq BEV brand in August and announced that three models, the Ioniq 5, 6 and 7, will be released by 2024. And in September, sister company Kia announced plans to increase the share of BEV sales as a proportion of total sales to 20 per cent by 2025. Future Genesis electric vehicles will also use the E- GMP, along with some commercial and fleet applications.
Creating modular EV platforms that are easily scalable has evolved in the past few years for several reasons, the most important of which is keeping costs down because the high price of battery packs make profit margins on EVS very small, if achievable at all. Hyundai's E- GMP can be used across most vehicle segments, from sedans to SUVS and CUVS.
Hyundai says the benefits of its new platform include increased development flexibility, powerful driving performance, increased driving range, strengthened safety features, and more interior space for occupants and luggage.
Its new rear-wheel driven platform can provide a 500-plus kilometre full-charge range and be charged up to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes with high-speed charging. That lightning-quick time is thanks to an Integrated Power Electric system that features the world's first multicharging (400V/800V) and bidirectional power conversion function.
In addition, a future high-performance model based on the architecture will accelerate from zero to 100 km/ h in under 3.5 seconds, and have a top speed of 260 km/ h. Hyundai says a maximum horsepower of 600 can be achieved from the power plant.
Customers will be able to choose between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, with the all-wheel system incorporating an EV transmission disconnector that can control the connection between the additional motor and front wheels, and switch between two-wheel and all-wheel drive modes to enhance efficiency and cater to the driving conditions.
The E- GMP'S power system consists of a small, high-speed motor, an EV transmission, and an inverter integrated into a single compact module. Hyundai says this design increases the motor's maximum speed by up to 70 per cent compared to existing motors. In addition, the inverter power module is designed to enhance system efficiency to provide a five per cent longer range on the same battery energy. The battery pack is mounted between the front and rear wheel axles and will be the most power-dense system Hyundai Motor Group has ever created.
The Bi-directional Charging System is forward looking, because 800-volt infrastructure, providing up to 350kw of charging, is limited, particularly in Canada. However, the E- GMP also offers 400V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters.
Unlike previous BEVS, which only accept one-way charging, the E- GMP'S charging system enables a new vehicle-to-load ( V2L) function, which can discharge energy from the vehicle battery without additional components. This enables a BEV based on the E- GMP to operate other electric machinery (110 / 220V) and can even be used to charge another EV.
Hyundai engineers had driving performance in mind as well. The E- GMP is engineered to offer improved cornering performance and driving stability at high speed, the automaker says. In addition, there is five-link rear suspension system, like the one found in mid- size and large vehicles, and the world's first mass-produced integrated drive axle (IDA), which combines wheel bearings with the driveshaft to transmit power to the wheels, and enhances ride comfort and handling stability.
The platform's battery pack is mounted beneath the floor, creating a flat floor for the cabin that provides more legroom for passengers, while enabling arrangements for front and rear seats.
The first vehicles to use the E- GMP will be the Ioniq 5 and a yet-to-be-named Kia crossover.