Skip to main content

Not so fast, Tesla: Hyundai to debut electric vehicle with 250-mile range by 2020

In terms of affordable electric vehicles that can take you farther than the store and back, there are two major players in the game right now — Tesla and General Motors. The delivery process for the Tesla Model 3 is expected to begin in late 2017 (although we’re not exactly holding our breath), and the Chevy Bolt EV is due out at the end of this year. Now, a third challenger has entered the fray, and although it’ll be a bit late to the electric vehicle party, it’s aiming to pack a big punch in terms of range.

According to a new report by Autoblog, Hyundai plans to debut a 250-mile pure EV by 2020. Byung Ki Ahn, the brand’s director of eco-vehicle performance development, confirmed the news on Monday, while also revealing that Hyundai will release a 200-mile EV in 2018. Little is known about either car at this time, but given the Korean automaker’s affinity for value, it’s likely the vehicles will be closer in price to the Chevy Bolt EV than, say, a Tesla Model X.

Before the long-range EVs touch down, Hyundai will preview its electric tech with a trio of Ioniq alternative energy vehicles. The first of the pack will be the Ioniq Electric, which arrives this fall with a 28 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, an estimated range of 110 miles, and an efficiency rating of 125 MPGe. The Ioniq Hybrid will follow in winter, with the plug-in hybrid variant rounding out the launch next summer.

Read more: Hyundai launching new fuel cell electric vehicle in early 2018

It’s certainly been a busy year for Hyundai. If the manufacturer’s newfound commitment to green driving weren’t enough, the company has been busy refining and developing its new luxury division, Genesis. The sub-brand’s first product, the G90, was revealed earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show, and smaller G80 and G70 models are on the way. There are even rumors of a midsize crossover debuting in the next few years. For more info on Hyundai and the Genesis brand, click here.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tesla Model S breaks through the 400-mile range barrier
tesla increases model s and x range

Tesla's Model S has officially broken through the 400-mile range barrier, giving it the best mileage in the electric-car market -- meaning you can turn the Autopilot on and relax for just a little while longer.

“Starting today, all North American Model S Long Range Plus vehicles have an official EPA-rated range of 402 miles, representing a nearly 20% increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S 100D with the same battery pack design,” the electric-car company led by Elon Musk said in a message on its website.

Read more
Canceled Dyson electric vehicle boasted 600-mile range per charge
Dyson logo

The canceled electric vehicle of Dyson, known for household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and bladeless fans, would have been able to go 600 miles on a single charge.

Dyson announced its electric vehicle project in September 2017, claiming a "radically different" design with a targeted 2020 launch. Sir James Dyson, the founder of the company, said that he was investing $2.7 billion into the project, which will use solid-state batteries instead of the lithium-ion batteries used by other electric car manufacturers in order to improve range and shorten charging times.

Read more
Tesla’s new million-mile battery could finally make electric cars affordable
Tesla

Tesla plans to debut low-cost electric car batteries that can last up to a million miles and could make electric Tesla models the same price or even less than a car run by gasoline. 

These low-cost batteries would first appear in Tesla’s Model 3 in China later this year or early 2021. Other markets, like North America, would follow after, according to an exclusive report from Reuters. 

Read more