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Hyundai unveiled a new EV strategy, which starts with a short-term focus on hybrids and ends with a full lineup of 21 EVs by 2030, when it expects demand for electric cars to pick up.
Also in 2030, Hyundai will debut a more affordable battery for entry-level models. It promises 20% better performance, thanks to "ongoing improvements in battery energy density," says Hyundai. The company did not mention any estimated vehicle prices or range.
The battery will have a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) chemistry, which is often used today on more expensive EVs because of its higher energy density. For entry-level models, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have become common as an affordable alternative.
Hyundai will still offer its "performance-based" NCM batteries, as well as low-cost LFP batteries. It sounds like the new, affordable NCM battery will act as a goldilocks option. Solid state batteries are also still on the horizon, though Hyundai not mention when they may be available.
"Hyundai Motor is dedicated not only to improving battery performance but also to ensuring that EVs are affordable, safe and easy to maintain," Hyundai says.
Hyundai is giving its battery management system a boost, with AI-driven safety alerts and more accurate battery life prediction tech. To reduce the already rare number battery fires, an advanced cooling technology dubts in 2026 that "suppresses the occurrence of flames inside the battery." Hyundai's current lineup already includes a safety system that prevents heat transfer between cells.
For customers not quite ready for a full EV, Hyundai is developing an "extended range electric vehicle," or EREV. Debuting in 2026, it will offer up to a 560-mile range through a combination of gasoline and electric power. However, it's not a typical hybrid, and not a full EV—but it has both a gas tank and a battery. The battery powers the drivetrain, and it's charged by the gas tank rather than an external plug-in.
"This vehicle serves as a key bridge to electrification," Hyundai says. "It provides EREV customers with a responsive EV-like driving experience, allowing consumers to naturally transition to EVs during future demand recovery periods."
Ram is developing a similar powertrain for the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger. It promises a 690-mile range.
While these technologies are in the works, Hyundai will respond to today's "decelerating" EV demand by expanding its hybrid offerings, especially in North America. Its lineup will go from 7 to 14 models. The high-end Genesis brand will offer a hybrid option for all models, excluding those that are purely electric.
"EVs are the future of transportation, [but] not all customers are ready to make the switch," Hyundai says. The company plans to "offer a range of powertrains, including internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, EVs, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles."
Ford also announced a short-term pivot to hybrids in its EV strategy update last week, saying they are both unprofitable for the company to produce and expensive for the consumers.