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Hyundai is expected to introduce a hybrid version of the Avante, the vehicle sold in the United States as the Elantra, for the home market – i.e., Korea in 2009. Instead of gasoline, the vehicle will be set up to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electric motors. LPG costs half the price of gasoline in Korea and there is a deliver infrastructure already in place for it.

Hyundai is moving now to capitalize on Korean incentives for hybrid vehicles, fearing that delay would cede market share to Japanese manufacturers who have a head start in hybrid production. It will need changes in Korean legislation to complete the move, because LPG powered vehicles are currently legal in that country only for rental cars. However, government approval is anticipated.

The automaker estimates a fuel economy range between 44 and 47 miles per gallon for the hybrid vehicle.

Though Hyundai has said nothing about selling a hybrid in the United States, it also plans a gasoline electric hybrid for 2010 and there would appear to be no reason that a gasoline powered version of the hybrid vehicle could not be sold in the United States.

Source: Internal

Ярлыки: Hyundai