Hyundai is developing two small electric cars that will be focused on the European market and are due to arrive in late 2024 – with a potential price tag of €20,000 (£17,040).
The Korean manufacturer has huge plans for its future electric line-up, with at least 10 EVs on the way for the European market by 2030 – and two of those cars as set to be small ‘A-segment’ machines.
Leading technology firm BorgWarner has confirmed that it has reached a deal to supply Hyundai Motor with its iDM146 Integrated Drive Module for use in the two cars. That is a modular electric motor system that can be tuned to offer up to 135kW (181bhp) of peak power.
According to BorgWarner, the iDM146 uses a motor with a diameter of 146mm and ‘high voltage hairpin’ technology, allowing it to offer “high power density and efficiency.”
Move Electric Awards 2022 E-Business of the Year: Hyundai Motor Group
It’s believed that one of the two A segment machines will be a city car that could serve as a spiritual successor to the current petrol-engined Hyundai i10, with the other a chunkier crossover-style car. That would make it a rival to the upcoming Volkswagen ID 1, Cupra UrbanRebel and forthcoming Skoda city car that will share the VW Group’s new MEB Entry platform for small EVs.
Production is tipped to begin in mid-2023 for the first model – likely to be the crossover, given their popularity in the sales charts – with the other following in late 2024.
Andreas-Chistoph Hofman, Hyundai's European marketing boss, confirmed the €20,000 target price – which matches the Volkswagen and Cupra models due in 2025 – in an interview with Automotive News Europe recently, although he added that city cars “are tough to sell profitably”."
Hyundai as enjoyed considerable success with its line-up of electric cars, particularly with the bespoke electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV, the winner of Move Electric’s 2022 Best Electric Car Award. It is not yet known if the new A-segment machines will use a bespoke electric platform, or an adapted version of an existing one.
Producing affordable small cars – particularly electric ones – has been a major challenge for car firms in recent years, due to the requirement for expensive safety systems, and the challenge of reducing the cost of electric battery tech.
READ MORE
Subscribe to the Move Electric newsletter
e-CARS
UK charging networks: complete guide to every provider
New Cupra UrbanRebel is a bold EV supermini with 273-mile range
e-BIKES
10 fun things to try on an electric bike
Living with a Gocycle G4: how easy is it to adjust to?
e-MOTORBIKES
Seat Mó eScooter 125 UK review
How to do a CBT on an electric motorbike
Energica unveils new Experia electric tourer motorbike
e-SCOOTERS
Are e-scooters legal in the UK?
Private e-scooter rules 'cannot simply copy' rental regulations
Superpedestrian's European boss on why e-scooters are for everyone
e-WORLD
New Candela P-12 Shuttle to arrive as first electric ‘flying’ ferry
Pipistrel Velis Electro: meet the first certified electric plane