By Greentech Lead Team: Strengthening its
commitment towards green vehicles and carbon emission targets, auto major
Hyundai has expanded its hybrid lifetime battery guarantee.
Replacement guarantee demonstrates
Hyundai’s long term commitment to expanding consumer adoption of hybrids.
According to a press release, Hyundai will
be expanding the benefits of Hyundai Assurance, the industry’s most
comprehensive warranty program. Initially announced at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month, the Hybrid Battery
Replacement Guarantee applies to all U.S. 2012 model year Sonata Hybrids and is
the first-of-its-kind in the industry.
The Hyundai Lifetime Hybrid Battery
Replacement Guarantee ensures that if the 2012 Sonata Hybrid lithium polymer
battery fails, Hyundai will replace the battery and cover recycling costs for
the old battery pack free of charge to the original owner. The coverage is not
transferrable, and does not apply to lease and commercial vehicles or vehicles
serviced outside the U.S.
Hyundai’s research indicates that battery
replacement costs are a big barrier to the consideration of a hybrid
vehicle. By offering the Lifetime Battery Replacement Guarantee, Hyundai
is addressing customer concerns and demonstrating our confidence in the
durability of its product.
“Even with all the hybrid vehicle
options on the market today, there is still limited demand for these vehicles
because of barriers to customer adoption such as uncertainty about the
technology and performance,” said Michael O’Brien, vice president,
Corporate and Product Planning.
The Hybrid Sonata, with Hyundai’s Hybrid
Blue Drive technology, features a lithium polymer battery pack, making Hyundai
the first automaker in the world to incorporate this efficient battery
technology into production vehicles.
The lithium polymer cells, developed with
Hyundai’s partner LG Chem, use a manganese spinel chemistry that provides an
excellent balance between power delivery, energy density and thermal stability.
Thermal stability is critical to ensuring durability, eliminating the need to
replace the battery pack during the normal lifespan of the vehicle.