Box Autos

• 

• 

2013 Sonata Hybrid Maximizes Efficiency with Increased Electric-Only Driving

Hyundai’s Industry-Exclusive Hybrid Lifetime Battery Warranty Continues with Larger, Lighter 47 kW Lithium Polymer Battery Pack, Higher Output Electric Motor and New Control Logic, Yielding Improved Fuel Efficiency

Operates in All-Electric Mode More Often and For Longer Periods of Time

Hyundai Motor America has announced pricing for the 2013 Sonata Hybrid, starting at $25,650 for the extraordinarily well-equipped Sonata Hybrid and $30,550 for the new range-topping Sonata Hybrid Limited. At $25,650 shoppers will discover the improved 2013 Sonata Hybrid achieves better fuel economy and is priced $200 less than the outgoing 2012 Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai will continue to offer an industry-exclusive Hybrid Lifetime Battery Warranty on the 2013 Sonata Hybrid.

Freight Charges for the 2013MY Sonata Hybrid are $795 and not included in the prices above.

The 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid increases fuel efficiency and operates in all-electric mode more often and for longer periods of time, with an advanced version of the brand’s Hybrid Blue Drive architecture. The improved architecture optimizes electric-only driving by adding a larger capacity 10.5 kW Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG), higher output 35 kW electric motor, a more powerful 47 kW Lithium Polymer battery pack and an optimized hybrid operating strategy. These upgrades are paired with a 2.4-liter Theta II four-cylinder engine that now runs on a more efficient Atkinson cycle and an enhanced transmission to generate 206 total horsepower. The new Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive system offers greater fuel efficiencies by increasing the overall amount of available electrical drive power, allowing drivers to go further between fill ups.

As in previous Sonata Hybrids, the 2013 Sonata Hybrid features a clutch to decouple the gasoline engine from the drivetrain. When in pure electric drive, the Sonata Hybrid can drive electrically up to 75 miles per hour.

Increasing electric only driving

Maximizing electric-only driving results in higher fuel efficiency, which is the leading factor car buyers look for in a hybrid vehicle. Hyundai engineers aimed to increase the overall amount of available electrical drive power and improve the efficiency of the Hybrid Blue Drive operating system in the 2013 Sonata Hybrid.

Using a higher output 35 kW electric motor and the more powerful 47 kW Lithium Polymer battery pack, the Hybrid Blue Drive powertrain maximizes electric-only driving. The improved operating system takes advantage of newly developed driving pattern detection and engine on/off optimization logic. The availability of more battery energy allows for greater flexibility in running the gasoline engine at optimum efficiency, which saves fuel. Better kinetic energy recovery and increased charging efficiency powers the Sonata Hybrid in all-electric mode more often and for longer periods of time, increasing fuel economy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 SONATA HYBRID IMPROVEMENTS

	HSG	Electric Motor Output	Battery Output	EPA Estimated Fuel Economy (mpg)	Fuel Economy Improvement
2012 Sonata Hybridvs.2013 Sonata Hybrid	8.5 kW → 10.5 kW	30 kW → 35 kW	34 kW → 47 kW	34 → 36 city39 → 40 hwy36 → 38 comb.	6 percent city3 percent hwy6 percent comb.

The 2013 Sonata Hybrid utilizes the all-electric mode at optimal moments such as highway driving, then saves the gasoline engine start-up for roads that require a heavier dose of power. All of this translates to money saved for the driver.

KEY IMPROVEMENTS FOR INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY

LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY PACK

The remarkable achievement with 2013 Sonata Hybrid’s 47 kW lithium polymer battery pack is that not only is it more powerful and more energy dense, but also weighs less and takes up less volume in the trunk. The weight of the pack has gone from 92.4 pounds to 87.8 pounds while trunk volume has increased from 10.7 cu. ft. to 12.1 cu. ft. Once again, the improved efficiency of the battery pack is key to recovering more kinetic energy from braking and charging from the engine, when needed, to help propel the vehicle. The newly optimized system allows the battery to store more usable energy, allowing more all-electric driving, cutting both fuel consumption and emissions.

HIGHER OUTPUT ELECTRIC MOTOR

As the upgraded battery stores more energy, engineers also increased the output on the electric traction motor from 30 kW to 35 kW. The increased energy pulled into the system is used for higher torque output in electric drive mode before the system has to start the internal combustion engine. The 2013 Sonata Hybrid can now sustain all-electric mode longer than the previous system. These changes deliver both improved fuel economy and drivability. The higher output electric motor is also essential to improving energy capture during regenerative braking.

HYBRID STARTER GENERATOR

Taking the Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) from 8.5 kW to 10.5 kW of capacity provides more charging capacity and, in turn, seamless electric starts. The HSG is primarily used to improve clutch engagement when synchronizing engine to transmission speed. The primary traction motor is coupled to the transmission and cannot be used to charge the hybrid battery when the car is stationary. If the battery state of charge is low and the car is stationary, the HSG will automatically restart the engine, which then charges the Lithium Polymer battery pack.

When the driver releases the brake and presses the accelerator, the Sonata Hybrid will pull away smoothly and silently in electric drive mode with the clutch still disengaged. In this mode, the Sonata will briefly behave like a series hybrid. Once the car is in motion and torque demand increases, the clutch will engage and send engine tractive effort through the transmission again.

DRIVEABILITY IMPROVEMENTS

In addition to improving efficiency, Hyundai engineers set their sights on improving drivability with the following:

• Improved hybrid system clutch control
• Improved vehicle response by throttle tuning
• Optimized regenerative braking shift pattern
• Decreased friction in the compact six-speed automatic transmission

AERODYNAMICS

The body of the 2013 Sonata Hybrid remains unchanged, but it still features the unique exterior that sets it apart from other Sonatas. The combination of a re-shaped front and rear fascias with a deeper air dam, extended rocker panels and lower drag wheels allow air to flow around the body with less resistance. The drag coefficient for the Sonata Hybrid is an exceptionally low 0.24 that compares favorably to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (0.34) and the Nissan GT-R (0.27).

Sonata Hybrid Limited