Better Than Tesla? Hyundai’s Latest EV Can Drive 373 Miles Without a Recharge—Here’s How

South Korea’s leading automaker, Hyundai Motor Group
It put in surprising efforts to address its biggest concern regarding EVs: driving range

In November 1991, South Korea introduced its first EV model to the world, the Sonata Electric. At that time, the vehicle was equipped with lead-acid batteries, a far cry from today’s advanced lithium-ion and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. This older battery technology limited the Sonata Electric to a top speed of just 60 km/h (37 mph), making highway travel particularly challenging. Also, with a driving range of only 70 km (43 miles), achieving higher speeds wouldn’t have remedied its limited utility on longer journeys.

EV technology has advanced significantly, allowing vehicles to travel considerable distances on a single charge. However, driving range remains a primary concern for manufacturers and is a critical selling point for EVs. Manufacturers continuously strive to improve this aspect, as extending the driving range can significantly enhance an EV’s appeal. Hyundai Motor Group is no exception, actively focusing on developing technologies to increase the driving range of their EVs, highlighting their commitment to advancing EV capabilities.

From underdog to one of the strongest contenders
Hyundai Motor Group has shown consistent effort

In 2021, Hyundai Motor Group developed the world’s first AWD disconnector system, a cutting-edge technology for the reducer of EVs. The reducer is crucial for efficiently transmitting power in line with the motor’s characteristics. When integrated with the AWD disconnector system, it can selectively engage or disengage the motor and drive shaft based on the driving conditions. This means that when all-wheel drive isn’t needed, the system automatically halts the auxiliary drive wheels, thus preventing unnecessary power loss and enhancing efficiency.

Hyundai Motor Group has introduced an innovative technology called Active Air Skirt (AAS) that reduces air resistance at high speeds. This technology dynamically adjusts based on the vehicle’s speed to manage the airflow entering through the lower part of the bumper. The primary function of AAS is to control the vortex around the vehicle wheels, significantly enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. This technology debuted on the Genesis EV model GV60, showcasing Hyundai’s commitment to advancing the performance and efficiency of EVs.

Examining Tesla’s approach to increasing driving range
Makes Hyundai’s efforts seem even more impressive

Tesla, the leading EV brand in the U.S., is also dedicated to increasing the driving range of its vehicles, albeit through a unique approach. Instead of purely hardware upgrades, Tesla is enhancing vehicle capabilities through software improvements. They offer an update known as “Energy Boost,” which unlocks additional battery capacity to extend the driving range by about 80 kilometers (50 miles). This software upgrade is available to some Tesla models for a fee ranging from $1,500 to $2,000, showcasing Tesla’s innovative technology integration to improve vehicle performance.

Tesla has innovated an optional range extender, an additional battery pack that boosts the driving range by 200 km (124 miles), currently designed exclusively for the Cybertruck. This range extender occupies one-third of the Cybertruck’s loading space, offering flexibility based on the user’s needs: it can be installed for long-distance travel or towing and removed when not needed. This development highlights the significance of Hyundai’s technological advancements in extending driving ranges, demonstrating the industry’s progress in addressing range anxiety among EV users.

Now, with a single charge, you can drive up to 373 miles—the future holds limitless possibilities

Hyundai’s efforts to improve EV battery efficiency are endless. The design minimizes air resistance and also applies regenerative braking technology, which converts kinetic energy generated during braking into electrical energy to charge the battery. Now, you can drive about 600 km (373 miles) in the city on a single charge. Among EV models, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 has the longest city driving range at room temperature at 588 km (365 miles).

The battle to overcome the limitations of battery efficiency and short driving range—currently the most significant drawbacks of EVs—continues to drive technological advances. Eventually, EVs are expected to surpass internal combustion engines in performance. The days when an EV could only travel 70 km (43 miles) will be remembered with amusement, much like the future memory of when 600 km (373 miles) seemed an impressive feat. This progress signifies the rapid evolution within the EV sector, promising a future where such limitations are just historical anecdotes.