Hyundai aims to be carbon-neutral by 2045
Hyundai has announced its plans to be a carbon-neutral manufacturer, along with other initiatives to help combat climate change and reduce environmental impact. It aims to reach this goal by 2045, and has laid out its plans and based the goal on three key pillars: clean mobility, newer mobility platforms and green energy.
The first part of Hyundai’s environmental-friendly ambitions is encouraging clean mobility. Having introduced its first EV concept way back in 1991, Hyundai has come a long way in manufacturing zero-emission vehicles. Having launched the Ioniq brand dedicated solely to battery-operated vehicles (or BEVs) and also the Kona Electric on our shores not too long ago, Hyundai is well-versed with making electric vehicles, having unveiled its Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that is dedicated to BEVs. The manufacturer has also been focused on hydrogen fuel cell technology, to encourage the use of cleaner fuel and reduced emissions from its vehicles. Hyundai had even launched the ix35 in 2013, making it the world’s first mass-produced vehicle to make use of a fuel-cell electric powertrain, followed by the Nexo, an SUV powered by hydrogen, in 2018. Starting 2035, the company will only be selling zero-emission vehicles in Europe and will phase out its fossil-fuel powered vehicles in international markets by 2040.
The second prong in Hyundai’s carbon-neutral plan is changing the way we travel in urban cities. Hyundai aims to make a big push on autonomous vehicles, and that is evident with its Robotaxi concept. Based on the Ioniq 5, the Robotaxi is armed with a host of sensors that will enable it to transport public passengers without the need of a driver. The Robotaxi concept, which is designed to be a SAE Level 4 autonomous driving vehicle, aims to reduce the emissions caused by taxis in urban cities. And if that wasn’t enough, Hyundai is also working on what it calls the Urban Air Mobility concept – which will basically be an airborne vehicle to ferry you around cities like a normal cab service!
Lastly, Hyundai is also focusing on reducing carbon emissions at the company’s production facilities. The efforts don’t just stop there, as the hydrogen for the fuel cells will also be obtained from low-carbon sources. In case of electric vehicles, Hyundai is also taking measures to enable its EV to send energy back to the grid with its Vehicle-to-Grid program, as well as working with local partners to commence commercial reuse of second-life EV batteries.
In these trying times, it is necessary for everyone to do their bit towards the conservation of our environment. And in that respect, Hyundai’s carbon-neutral ambitions are a very positive step indeed.
