Hyundai Group Announces New 500Km Range-Dedicated Platform For Its Next Generation Of EVs

• The new E-GMP platform will underpin next-gen Hyundai and Kia EVs.

• EVs based on the platform will offer a maximum WLTP range of 500km on a full charge.

• 800V charging capabilities allow a 0 to 80 percent charge in just 18 minutes.

• It features increased cabin space thanks to a long wheelbase.

• The platform houses a new charging unit which allows bi-directional transfer of charge.

• A high performance model, underpinned by the E-GMP, will be capable of achieving 0-100kmph in 3.5 seconds.

Hyundai has unveiled a new platform for its EVs, named Electric-Global Modular Platform or E-GMP. The EV-specific platform will underpin the carmaker's next generation of long-range EVs, capable of providing a WLTP-claimed range of up to 500km on a full charge. This includes the IONIQ 5 and Kia's new EV which is yet to be revealed.

Hyundai has developed E-GMP in a way where it can be easily altered to meet the needs of both sedans and SUVs. The new platform offers a five-link rear suspension system and the world's first mass-produced integrated drive axle, where the wheel bearings are combined with the drive shaft, enhancing ride quality. The battery pack sits low and in between the front and rear axles, housed in a support structure made of ultra-high strength steel. The battery pack also gets a separate cooling block structure, resulting in a battery that Hyundai claims is 10 percent more energy dense.

In terms of the design, the platform features a long wheelbase with short front and rear overhangs and a slim cockpit module. The battery pack's positioning gives the EV a low centre of gravity and a flat floor in the cabin, allowing for different arrangements of the seating and more legroom.

All vehicles based on the E-GMP platform will use a standard battery module, with pouch-type standard cells, packed in different quantities according to the needs of each vehicle. The power electric system will consist of an electric motor, EV transmission and inverter. The motor's maximum speed is increased by upto 70 percent over the current ones, leading to an increase in performance. Silicon carbide semiconductors in the inverter increase the power module's efficiency by approximately 2 to 3 percent. In addition to 400V, the E-GMP also offers 800V charging capability, allowing the car to be charged to 80 percent in just 18 minutes, and 100km of driving range in just five minutes.

Hyundai also has plans for a high-speed model which will go from 0-100kmph in just 3.5 seconds, and onto a top speed of 260kmph. Predominantly supporting rear-wheel drive, the platform can also accommodate an additional motor for all wheel drive variants, with an EV transmission disconnector to switch between the two drive modes with minimum loss of efficiency.

While all EVs have a one-way flow of charge, the E-GMP will offer bi-directional charging, which means that you can use one EV to charge another. This can be helpful for road assistance vehicles to help a drained EV when there's no charging point nearby. This is due to the new Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) which can power other electric machinery (110V/220V). This can supply 3.5kw of power and operate a mid-sized AC or a 55-inch television for upto 24 hours.

This new platform will underpin 23 Hyundai EVs, with the IONIQ 5, 6, and 7 arriving by 2024. The carmaker hopes to sell 1 million units worldwide by 2025. Sibling brand Kia will also utilise the platform for its electrification plans, which include seven models by 2027 and an increase in EV sales to 20 percent of its total sales by 2025.