KATHMANDU: South Korean automaker Hyundai is preparing to launch a large SUV capable of delivering a 1,000-kilometer range on a single battery charge and a full tank of fuel.
Expected to be unveiled in the US market in 2027, the vehicle will be Hyundai’s first Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV).
Hyundai Motor Group CEO José Muñoz told reporters that the company was developing the EREV. He revealed the plan during a media briefing following last week’s annual investor conference.
“We see them more useful for larger vehicles, because basically, you remove your range anxiety, and then you can, you can get the longer distances which are driven by the American consumer,” Muñoz said.
He added that the utilization Hyundai sees with many of its EV customers is day-to-day commuting. “They save money on gas, and then we see the model of using it in the day and charging overnight, very simple, like your phone. So no problem,” Muñoz said. “If you want to go for a long weekend and you have to make a lot of miles, you have certain anxiety, because you don’t know if the charger is going to work, etc. So then you need a different technology.”
With the EREV announcement, Hyundai is positioning itself as a brand active across all types of fuel technologies. The company already offers vehicles powered by petrol, diesel, CNG, battery-electric systems and hydrogen fuel cells.
