Hyundai unveils Blue-City CNG hybrid bus

Recently, South Korea's largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Company, peeled back the curtain to unveil the latest addition to its sub-brand Blue Drive; the compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid Blue-City bus. Hyundai's hybrid bus features the automaker's 237-horsepower G-CNG engine, which is connected to a 6-speed automated manual transmission. The Blue-City sports a 60kW electric drive motor and 3.8kWh lithium-polymer battery pack.

Hyundai's hybrid Blue-City boasts an operating range of 211 miles, provided that its fuel tank is full and its battery pack is charged to capacity. The hybrid coach tops out at a leisurely 62 miles per hour, making it ideal for urban duties, but less suitable for high-speed interstate travel.

Hyundai claims the fuel efficiency of the Blue-City is approximately 30-40 percent higher and estimates that its CO2 emissions are 24 percent lower than that of a non-hybrid CNG-fueled bus.

Hyundai will test out 30 Blue-City hybrids in select metropolitan areas of Korea beginning in July. The automaker is aiming to kick off mass production of the Blue-City in 2012.

[Source: Hyundai]
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HYUNDAI CONTINUES ITS 'BLUE DRIVE' PUSH WITH CNG HYBRID BUS
- Hyundai introduces Korea's first CNG hybrid bus 'Blue-City'

- Hyundai continues to introduce innovative eco-friendly models

- Test fleet to begin operations in selected metropolitan areas from July

Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, unveiled the nation's first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) hybrid bus, 'Blue-City,' demonstrating its technological leadership in the field of eco-friendly vehicles. This is the first time a major automaker independently developed both the system and body for such a vehicle.

'Blue-City,' fully developed in Korea, is Hyundai's latest eco-friendly model that delivers better fuel efficiency with lower emissions by using a CNG engine and an electric motor. The hybrid bus is equipped with a G-CNG Engine that offers 177kW (240ps) and a 6-speed automated manual transmission, while its 60kW (82ps) highly-efficient electric motor and 3.8kWh lithium-polymer battery enable safe driving and efficient charging.

`Blue-City' meets and even exceeds the performance and efficiency of existing CNG buses: Despite cutting down the total number of fuel tanks to five from seven (total capacity of 770ℓ), `Blue-City' can still operate 340km on a single charge, which is equivalent to the existing CNG bus. Furthermore, while its climbing performance of 30 percent is similar to a conventional CNG bus, the maximum speed stands at 100km/h, which is ideal for a metro bus. The fuel efficiency of 'Blue-City' is about 30-40 percent higher than that of normal CNG buses, enabling metro bus operators to save costs.

In terms of CO2 emissions, the CNG hybrid bus emits over 24 percent less CO2 (equivalent to about 33 tons per year/vehicle) than a conventional CNG bus and 35 percent less than a diesel bus.

Since launching its eco-friendly sub-brand Blue Drive in 2008, Hyundai Motor has showcased a wide range of innovative eco-friendly models including hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles such as the Avante LPi hybrid, the world's first LPi hybrid, and the Sonata gasoline hybrid. Last year Hyundai also delivered 30 full-speed electric vehicles badged as BlueOn to the government, as well as an electric metro bus named `Elec-City,' for test operations.

Hyundai will operate 30 test units of `Blue-City' in selected metropolitan areas from July, with plans to mass produce the vehicles in 2012. Hyundai will continue to expand its Blue Drive strategy and products to secure its position as a leading eco-friendly automaker.

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