Hyundai Motor unveils all-new electric vehicle platform E-GMP

Hyundai Motor Co. has unveiled a new platform, which will underpin its electric vehicles in coming years as South Korea’s largest automotive group aims to grab a greater share of the rapidly growing EV market.

Taking the wraps off the platform during an event on Dec. 2, Hyundai said the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) will serve as the core technology for the group’s next-generation EV line-up.

Designed exclusively for battery electric cars, E-GMP provides various advantages compared to the automaker’s existing platforms, which have been engineered predominantly to accommodate internal combustion engines, it said.

Hyundai said the modular E-GMP architecture can be adapted to create a wide range of vehicles, including sedans and sport utility vehicles, from next year.

IONIQ 5, FIRST EV TO ADOPT E-GMP

Hyundai’s first EV to use the new platform will be the IONIQ 5, a mid-size crossover to be unveiled in 2021. E-GMP will also underpin affiliate Kia Motors Corp.’s new EV models.

Hyundai said in August that all of its EVs will fall under a standalone sub-brand called IONIQ in response to fast-growing market demand and accelerate the automotive group’s plan to lead the global EV market.

All of the IONIQ-branded cars will sit on Hyundai’s all-electric E-GMP vehicle platform.

Hyundai Motor said E-GMP offers many benefits compared to its existing platforms.

With the position of the EV battery pack between the front and rear wheel axles, the cabin will have a flat floor allowing for more legroom and various arrangements for the front and rear seats.

E-GMP ENABLES WORLD’S FIRST FUNCTIONS

Hyundai said E-GMP vehicles will have both 400-volt and 800-volt charging capabilities, the world’s first, and offer bi-directional charging to allow vehicles to power other devices or charge other EVs. The platform will also enable both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with more motors installed, the world’s first such function for EVs, according to Hyundai.

A car built on the platform will be capable of a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 260 km/h.

E-GMP cars will also support fast charging, with an 80% charge from empty possible in just 18 minutes and a maximum mileage of 500 km per single charge, Hyundai said. The platform will enable wireless charging for some EV models.

Hyundai Motor Group has said it plans to introduce 23 fully electric models and sell 1million units a year globally by 2025.

Albert Biermann, Hyundai's head of research and development, said the automotive group won't make batteries for its EVs in-house.

He said the company is in close partnership with three local battery makers  – LG Chem Ltd., SK Innovation Co. and Samsung SDI Co. – to secure enough batteries for its electric cars. Currently, LG and SK supply batteries to Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors.

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a global energy research firm, the global EV market will take off in coming years, with electric cars forecast to account for 58% of all cars newly sold in 2040.

Write to Byung-Uk Do and Seung-Hyun Baik at dodo@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.