Genesis Pivots On EVs With Range-Extended Hybrid

Genesis is reportedly working on a hybrid version of its GV70 crossover as it pivots its electric plans in the face of a cooling EV market according to the Korean Car Blog. The brand, which originally said it was only going to produce EVs and hydrogen-electric vehicles from 2025 onward, is now revising its plan to include its first hybrid model which will arrive by 2026 and be adapted to the existing GV70 platform, as opposed to needing a massive redesign.

The GV70 currently comes in combustion and fully-electric versions here in the US and has proven to be a formidable luxury product that rivals some of the best coming out of Europe, Japan, and the US. The company believes that offering a hybrid powertrain will only broaden its appeal. The hybrid system it has in store offers the best parts of electric and combustion drivetrains with fewer drawbacks.

Range Extending Engine

In today’s market, most hybrids fit into two categories: conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Both utilize an electric drivetrain and combustion engine that work in tandem to power the vehicle, while the latter also needs to be charged independently, offering more pure electric range among other benefits. While these systems can work well in the case of vehicles like the hybrid Prius, others like the PHEV Grand Cherokee 4xe are a little rough around the edges without a super smooth transition from electric to combustion power.

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Genesis wants to get around this by offering an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). It’ll use a purely electric drivetrain with a small engine as a generator to charge the battery, so you use pure-electric power to propel your vehicle down the road. This way, you’ll never have to worry about the awkward transition between electric and combustion power, and the engine only has to work at its most efficient RPM to power the battery, meaning you get great fuel economy and lower emissions.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because Nissan has been utilizing a hybrid step just like it for years in its models called e-Power, though it’s never offered the system in the US. You receive the benefit of electric propulsion without the drawbacks of charging times. It’s the best of both worlds.

Plans For The Model

The model is set to be US-specific, and as we said before, it will utilize the rear-wheel drive platform the GV70 already sits on, cutting down on development costs and time. As it stands, the model is set to be produced at the Hyundai Motor Group Meta Plant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, with the factory being retooled to take on the new drivetrain from the EVs it’s been working on previously.

Related

Genesis Expanding EV Availability And Standalone Locations

The company is ready to conquer more territory with better availability of its products across the country.

No details like range or power have been released yet, and we don’t expect them for some time. It’s possible the vehicle could also offer the ability for the driver to charge the battery as well as fill up the gas tank, similar to the Ram Ramcharger concept that debuted last year, but a single refueling approach may be easier for the consumer. What we do know is, if the model does well, there’s a good chance the technology could expand along the Genesis lineup and potentially to Hyundai and Kia models.

Source:
Korean Car Blog