Hyundai reveals details of its hybrid lifetime battery guarantee

Hyundai has announced details of its Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee, announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month.
March 19, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

236 Hyundai has announced details of its Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee, announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month. The replacement guarantee, the first-of-its-kind in the industry, will apply to all US 2012 model year Sonata Hybrids and will ensure that if the vehicle’s 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. Importantly, the coverage is not transferrable to a second or subsequent owner if the vehicle is sold, nor does it apply to lease and commercial vehicles or vehicles serviced outside the US.

Hyundai's research indicates that battery replacement costs are a big barrier to the consideration of a hybrid vehicle. The company recognises demand for hybrids is limited because because of barriers to customer adoption such as uncertainty about the technology and performance. "By offering the Lifetime Battery Replacement Guarantee, Hyundai is addressing customer concerns and demonstrating our confidence in the durability of our product," said Michael O'Brien, vice president, Corporate and Product Planning.

The Hybrid Sonata, with the company’s hybrid blue drive technology, features a lithium polymer battery pack, making Hyundai the first automaker in the world to incorporate this very efficient battery technology into production vehicles. Lithium polymer is the next generation of lithium ion technology and is ideally suited to automotive applications thanks to a robust and reliable chemistry.

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. The electrodes in older lithium ion chemistries expand and contract with the heating and cooling that occurs during charging and discharging. This thermal expansion causes cracks in the electrodes which ultimately reduces the cell's ability to hold a charge. Manganese spinel lithium polymer cells have much lower expansion rates and are thus able to go through tens of thousands of charge cycles even without having to use a heavier, liquid cooling system.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Major success for bC India despite challenging economic conditions
    April 4, 2013
    Despite challenging times, the second bC India construction equipment show proved a success Mumbai, India’s most populous city and the fourth most populous in the world, has again delivered a successful bC India. The bauma/ConExpo international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles, was held at the Bandra Kurla Complex, and impressively strengthened its position in the Indian market despite the challenging situation in the industry. Duri
    Read More
  • PPRS event highlights transport investment shortfall
    April 30, 2015
    The PPRS event in Paris highlighted the need for additional investment in road transportation – David Arminas writes. Consider the global road network. An improved road from one rural African town to another can reduce the journey time from a one-day walk to a one-hour drive. This could save lives through access to a hospital; allow small businesses to work faster by getting in supplies more quickly; allow children to attend a better equipped school. Roads affect society by allowing healthier and bett
    Read More
  • Increased output, productive ADTs and excavators
    February 29, 2012
    Productive performers provide increased output for customers in the loading and hauling sector of the earthmoving market - Mike Woof writes. Loading and hauling machines play key roles in earthmoving operations, with the excavator and ADT combination proving both versatile and productive. While machines such as scrapers may be more efficient in specific earthmoving applications, these do not offer the versatility of the excavator and ADT combination, reducing utilisation.
    Read More
  • Manitou releases its first-ever 100% “no compromise” electric compact telehandler
    March 16, 2023
    Manitou Group has released its first-ever 100% electric compact telehandler, a machine with “no compromise in terms of performance,” says Ilmars Nartish, Vice President of North American for Manitou Group.
    Read More

Highlighted Content