“County Electric” Minibus Is Hyundai’s Next Electric Play

Hyundai has developed very compelling, efficient electric cars — and then declined to get the battery supplies to produce a lot of them. Despite going slower than many electric vehicle fans (and climate-concerned citizens) would like, though, it is highly regarded for competent EV design. The company is now using those talents in the minibus market.

Hyundai Motor Company just released its “County Electric” minibus. Here are some key specs:

• 7.71 meters long
• 250 km (155 mile) range on full charge
• 128 kWh lithium ion battery
• 72 minutes to fully charge at 150 kW
• 17 hours to fully charge with normal 220V outlet
• 15 to 33 seats
• 30% faster than diesel bus going from 50 to 80 km/h (30–50 mph)

Naturally, being a new vehicle, it includes the latest safety tech. “Various sensors located near the middle door, including an ultrasonic sensor, prevent the door from closing while the passenger is getting on and off. The sensors also trigger an alarm when a body part gets caught in the door and automatically opens the door to prevent injury.” That’s something we don’t see in every electric vehicle press release, but nothing groundbreaking. The next line is interesting, though:

“The ultrasonic sensor is also connected to the bus’s acceleration pedal, which prevents the bus from moving forward from a stop when passenger movement is detected.” Passengers walking through the bus? That would be a huge improvement for passenger comfort, especially considering the electric torque possible on this minibus.

“The bus is available with a twin swing-type rear emergency door, seats with a 220-mm-higher backrest, and a new seat belt system that can reduce abdominal pressure during emergency braking. Swapping the diesel engine for electric motor provides more space, making it easier for passengers to get in and out of the bus.”

I’m not sure how that last line plays out in the actual design of the bus, but it’s great to see Hyundai highlighting the fact that EV powertrains come with some inherent advantages that smart design can benefit from.

Here are some more details straight from Hyundai:

Battery Features

• Battery monitoring system capable of automatically cutting the power when a battery abnormality is detected
• Overcharge prevention system that checks the battery voltage during charging and cuts the power when an abnormal voltage is detected
• Safety plug that cuts the power to the electrical system during maintenance

Brake and Stability Features

• AOH brake system that uses both hydraulic pressure and air pressure
• Heavy-duty brake discs
• Electronically controlled brake system that can maintain constant braking performance in various driving situations
• Stability control feature that controls each of the wheels during sudden braking and turning
• Overturn prevention feature controls engine and braking when the possibility is detected
• Hill launch assist feature
• Wheel spin prevention feature
• New parking brake that adds air pressure for more stable braking force
• Auxiliary braking system adjusts the strength of regenerative braking in four levels using a paddle shift attached to the steering wheel to adjust braking force without brake operation

Convenience Features

• Ventilated and heated seats for driver
• Color LCD instrument panel with a 7-inch main screen and two 4.2-inch auxiliary screens, providing various vehicle information
• Steering wheel with various function buttons in the steering wheel, and a smart key for starting a button that enables remote start.

Check out more Hyundai news on CleanTechnica.

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