Hyundai first showcased its Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. The Blue-Will reappeared last week at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Hyundai not only wanted to show the future of its hybrid vehicle fleet but prime the pump for its summer 2010 release of the BlueDrive Sonata hybrid. The BlueDrive Sonata will use the same hybrid drive system and a few of the components found in the Blue-Will.
The Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept is powered by a 1.6-liter engine, a 100kW electric motor and an innovative lithium polymer battery. Hyundai added a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to this concept to boost fuel economy without weakening performance. The lithium polymer battery has already been introduced to the market via the Elantra LPi hybrid electric vehicle. The Blue-Will is designed to operate on all-electric power for up to 40 miles, achieving a fuel economy equivalent of 106 miles per gallon (MPG). The drive system is projected to achieve a fuel mileage of 50 to 55 MPG in pure hybrid mode. Hyundai touts an overall range of 652 miles based on efficiencies in the drive system and auxiliary systems.
Hyundai added solar panels and a thermoelectric generator to reduce energy demands on the hybrid drive system. The Blue-Will features a sun roof with solar panels connected to a cooling fan in the cockpit, which would make driving more comfortable in hot conditions. The thermoelectric generator captures heat from the exhaust system. This component converts heat into electric energy that is used to power the radio, climate control and other auxiliary components. Hyundai is also premiering features that will be incorporated in hybrid vehicles over the next decade including drive-by-wire steering and touch-screen controls and monitors.
Observers at the 2010 NAIAS saw why Hyundai has slowly but surely caught up to Toyota and Honda in terms of green vehicle development. Hyundai has already begun sales of the Elantra LPI HEV in South Korea while gauging interest, infrastructure and production capabilities for a global release. The BlueDrive Sonata set for release in August will offer a legitimate alternative to the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid in North America. The Blue-Will presented in Detroit last week will serve as a template for Hyundai as hybrids give way to all-electric and alternative fuel vehicles in the future.
