Hyundai takes hybrid tech to next level

IN PARALLEL with ongoing fully electric vehicle and battery development, Hyundai Motor Group (including Kia and Genesis) has unveiled a next generation hybrid powertrain system it says delivers a new standard for power and efficiency.

The transmission-integrated system was debuted recently at a Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) event called ‘Next-Gen Hybrid System Tech Day’, highlighting the South Korean manufacturer’s significantly enhanced hybrid technology, which “will improve the driving and ownership experience of future Group products, delivering customer-focused benefits”.

The powertrain uses a new smooth shifting transmission with two integrated motors that can be paired flexibly with a range of internal combustion engines, allowing for optimised performance and fuel efficiency across a range of vehicle classes.

Using the technology, HMG plans to offer a range of industry-leading new products within the hybrid vehicle space including a new Palisade large SUV due soon.

“Additionally, various electrification-focused technologies have been incorporated into the next-generation hybrid system to enhance driving performance, refinement and ride comfort,” HMG said in a statement at its tech’ presentation.

Delving a little deeper into what makes the latest “dual motor” HMG hybrid system tick we find the transmission includes a new P1 motor that handles starting, battery energy generation and energy deployment to assist propulsion and a P2 driving motor responsible for propulsion and regenerative braking.

Designers have integrated the dual-motor setup to improve power, performance and fuel efficiency while achieving smooth shifting and reduced noise and vibrations for a more refined driving experience.

It can be paired flexibly with internal combustion engines across HMG’s line-up, delivering a system output from the low-73kW range to the mid-220kW range allowing for broad application from sub-compact to large vehicles.

HMG tapped its extensive experience with hybrid powertrains and motor and battery control technology accumulated through development of its BEV-dedicated, E-GMP electric vehicle platform to enhance driving performance and comfort.

Many convenience features such as Stay Mode, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, and Smart Regenerative Braking incorporated in the hybrid system are lifted from the company’s BEVs.

To fully capitalise on the next gen’ technology, HMG also improved ICE design with advanced compression and injection strategies to increase efficiency.

We won’t have to wait long to see the fruits of HMG’s labours as the first powertrain to use the next-generation hybrid system is in new Hyundai Palisade and uses a redeveloped petrol 2.5-litre turbo hybrid unit that enhances the design and control technology of the existing engine to maximise efficiency.

A petrol 1.6-litre turbo hybrid powertrain will also be available later.

Engine designers reassigned the 2.5 engine’s starting and generating tasks to the newly added P1 motor, the turbo hybrid powertrain minimises power losses.

“Combined with enhanced cylinder flow within the engine and the adoption of a high-efficiency cycle optimised for hybrids, fuel efficiency has been improved,” the company says in a statement.

“Additionally, an improved piston design and a significantly expanded triple fuel injection range enhances combustion speed, stabilises combustion and suppresses detonation, improving engine efficiency further still.

“By connecting the P1 motor directly to the engine, the system reduces engine start time. Precise control of engine load and the driving force of the P1 and P2 motors ensure that the engine operates within a high-efficiency range, improving fuel efficiency.”

HMG says the petrol 2.5 turbo hybrid system used in the all-new Palisade delivers maximum fuel efficiency of 7.1 litres per 100km, a maximum system output of 245kW, and maximum torque of 460Nm, offering approximately 45 per cent greater fuel efficiency, 19 per cent more maximum power, and a nine percent improvement in maximum torque compared with a 2.5 turbo petrol model.

“The next-generation petrol 1.6 turbo hybrid improves fuel efficiency by more than four per cent in a mid-size SUV compared with previous models, increasing the system’s maximum rated torque output from 367Nm to 380Nm and improving acceleration response,” Hyundai added.

Alongside the next-generation hybrid powertrain, HMG plans to integrate advanced electrification technologies to enhance performance, efficiency and competitiveness in its new hybrid vehicles including Electric All-Wheel Drive (e-AWD), Electrification-Vehicle Motion Control (e-VMC 2.0), e-Handling 2.0, Electrification- Evasive Handling Assist (e-EHA 2.0), e-Ride 2.0, Stay Mode, V2L and Smart Regenerative Braking.

Other new technologies revealed at the HMG System Tech Day include Hierarchical Predictive Control (HPC) and Smart Regenerative Braking, both enhancing fuel efficiency.

The former optimally controls battery charge by predicting the driving route and road conditions, selecting the best driving mode (e.g. EV, hybrid, regenerative braking mode etc.) along the route for improved fuel efficiency while the latter automatically applies optimal regenerative braking force based on navigation data and distance to other vehicles ahead, reducing brake pedal inputs and increasing battery charge through regenerative braking to further improve fuel efficiency.

“We have developed an innovative new hybrid system that integrates our long-accumulated engine, transmission and hybrid system development experience with the electrification technology applied to our world-class electric vehicles,” said Hyundai Motor Group executive vice president and head of electrified propulsion test centre Dong Hee Han.

“We will continue to develop innovative technologies that actively utilise electrification capabilities during the transition to EVs, providing customers with eco-friendly vehicles that offer superior performance.”