Hyundai announced its plans to build a hybrid version of the Sonata for 2010. It’s part of a plan that Hyundai hopes will allow the company to meet the 2020 CAFE fuel-economy requirements five years early. The new hybrid will introduce lithium-polymer batteries to the automotive world. For example, Tesla’s electric car uses a standard lithium-ion battery made up of 6831 individual cells, each cased in metal and slightly larger than an AA battery. Imagine that many AA batteries, and you get an idea of the weight and complexity that Hyundai seeks to avoid. Lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte that requires a strong metal casing; Hyundai’s lithium-polymer battery uses a polymer gel as the electrolyte, and it does not require as strong, or heavy-duty, a casing. Without the heavy casings, a lithium-polymer pack weighs less than an equally powerful lithium-ion battery pack. Hyundai claims its battery is also easier to manufacture and adapt to different vehicles. According to Hyundai, another major benefit of the new battery is its cooler operating temperature, which extends battery life.
Keep Reading: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - Car News
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