The Hyundai presentation at the Geneva Motor Show is showing why this Korean automaker is making an upward push in the global hybrid market. Hyundai set the table for green vehicle innovation with five new models powered by the automaker’s Blue Drive system. This in-house system comes with a stop/start system and an efficient gas engine that produces fuel economy in excess of 30 miles per gallon. These models may not be full hybrids or all-electrics but they will introduce high-mileage models to consumers worldwide. Hyundai also looked into the future at the Geneva Motor Show with the world debut of the i-flow diesel hybrid concept.
Hyundai presented the i-flow diesel hybrid as a smorgasbord of green vehicle innovations that will be incorporated in future models. The drive system created in conjunction with BASF features a 1.7-liter diesel engine, a six speed automatic transmission and a lithium-polymer battery pack. The i-flow diesel hybrid also comes with a set of solar panels on the roof as a nod to the future of green vehicle power. The most remarkable aspect of this concept is the projected 78.4 miles per gallon rating determined through Hyundai’s laboratory testing.
This extraordinary fuel economy is achieved through thermal engine encapsulation, thermoelectric heat recovery and eco-friendly driving. Thermal engine encapsulation allows the engine to store excess heat while idling for use when the vehicle needs to be restarted. This excess heat keeps the engine closer to its optimal temperature, thereby eliminating sluggish starts that can burn off fuel. Hyundai projects that thermal engine encapsulation could cut fuel consumption by up to 9%. The thermoelectric generator in the exhaust manifold collects exhaust heat and turns it into electrical energy, which can reduce fuel consumption by 5%. Hyundai’s eco-drive system allows drivers to reduce fuel consumption further by plotting eco-friendly routes and switching to the MPG-friendly ECO drive function.
The i-flow diesel hybrid is only a concept in 2010 but it represents the next frontier for automotive technology. Hyundai is only one of a handful of automakers looking at clever ways to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The i-flow’s sleek packaging and incorporation of multiple fuel-saving elements stands out from the rest of the field. Given Hyundai’s rising profile in the traditional auto market, it is not difficult to see this rising brand as a potential leader in the hybrid vehicle market.
