Hyundai Plans Electric Car With 200 Miles of Range for 2018
May 24 2016 - 03:40PM
Dow Jones News
Hyundai Motor Co. said it will follow its new electric car due
later this year in the U.S. with another one in 2018 that has at
least 200 miles of electric range.
Hyundai is selling a hybrid and fully electric version of a car
called the Ioniq later this year. The electric version will travel
120 to 130 miles on a charge, putting it ahead of cars like
Volkswagen AG's eGolf and Nissan Motor Co.'s Leaf. However, in just
two more years, it will be followed by a longer-range electric car,
said Byung Ki Ahn, director of Hyundai Motor Group's electric,
hybrid and fuel cell development group in an interview.
Hyundai adds to a growing list of car companies rolling out
longer-range electric cars as a means to attract customers who are
concerned that they could run out of charge and be stranded. Tesla
Motors Inc.'s success in wooing customers with cars that can travel
up to 290 miles and be recharged in less than an hour has been
influential in the industry.
Hyundai's announcement, however, also throws more competition to
Tesla, which is trying to roll out a new 200-mile range electric
sedan called the Model 3 by late 2017.
General Motors Co. will begin selling a new 200-mile range car
later this year called the Chevrolet Bolt. Nissan and Audi also
have committed to longer range electric cars in the 2018 time
frame.
Write to Mike Ramsey at michael.ramsey@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 24, 2016 15:25 ET (19:25 GMT)
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