Hyundai i10 Electric Debuts in Frankfurt

Hyundai unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show the 10 Electric, a zero-emission model that will enter production for the domestic market in 2010. However, Hyundai says the company will only start a limited-edition production for the new i10 as it intends to test the market prior to a global launch in the next months.

The car is similar in appearance with the regular i10, although the company struggled to keep the weight of the vehicle in the 1,000 kilos range.

The electric unit fitted on the i10 generates 49 kW / 65.7 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 210 Nm of torque at 2,670 rpm. Power comes from a 16 kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery which, according to the South Korean manufacturer, delivers the same power with 30 percent less weight, 40 percent less volume and 12 percent greater efficiency when compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries.

Thanks to the aforementioned settings, the car reaches 100 km/h in approximately 15 seconds and has a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80.7 mph). Hyundai says the advanced battery provides an autonomy of 160 km per charge, with the recharging process to take around 15 minutes using a 413V industrial charger.

Other highlights include a braking system powered by an electrical vacuum pump plus an electric water pump that cools both the engine and the battery.

As said, Hyundai will only start a limited production of the electric i10 but the company hasn't mentioned how many units it plans to build. Pricing and the full list of specifications will be released at a later date, probably closer to the official launch in 2010.