Hyundai Planning EV for United States

Hyundai'sHyundaiRepublic of Korea, 1967 > present79 models
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American CEO John Krafcik has revealed plans to bring an electric vehicle to the US market in the near future. He did not say whether it would be the Hyundai BlueON that is already on sale in South Korea or a North America-only vehicle. 

“Our primary zero-emission vehicle focus is fuel cell right now, but we will certainly field a BEV [battery electric vehicle] at some point," said Krafcik.

Selling an EV might be less of a choice and more of a mandate in the California State Government gets its way. It is forcing all automakers to offer a zero-emissions vehicle in the state. Hyundai had previously thought that it would have a hydrogen fuel cell ready to meet the law, but that now appears unlikely. 

The ix35 fuel cellHyundai ix35 Fuel CellRepublic of Korea, 2013 > present1 photo
is already on sale to fleet customers in Europe. 

Hyundai has two options. It can either build a car that is merely compliant with California’s rules and likely lose money on each one or it could attempt to offer an EV that would be attractive nationwide. 

The BlueON offers a 90-mile range and a top speed of 80mph. It takes 13.1 seconds to get to 60mph. This performance would make it among the worst in terms of range and speed of even the EVs on sale in California. 

It already offers hybrid versions of the SonataHyundai Sonata HybridRepublic of Korea, 2010 > present3 photos
and ElantraHyundai Elantra Gen.5Republic of Korea, 2011 > present16 versions
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in the US. 

Source: Detroit Bureau