EVs already post headline-worthy performance figures and the quickest ones, like the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire, can catapult to 60 mph in less than two seconds. But those ballistic EVs come with six-figure price tags, leaving mainstream EV buyers with less thrilling acceleration and fueling complaints from enthusiasts that electric cars lack excitement and character.
Hyundai aims to change that with a patent filed with the European Patent Office for a motor-management system that will allow its EVs to launch more rapidly and provide maximum acceleration sooner. Hyundai even describes it as ideal for drag racing and plans to add a virtual simulated engine sound to increase the sense of drama.
Hyundai’s EVs Are About to Launch Even Harder
Hyundai doesn’t say which models will receive the system, but we presume that performance EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the Kia EV6 GT will be the typical beneficiaries of such sprint-enhancing tech.The system is designed to optimize acceleration using:
- Driver inputs
- Vehicle-state information
- A predetermined level of motor torque
How It Works: A Three-Stage Process
- Assesses conditions for max acceleration and high performance
- Applies preset torque to the electric motor for a stronger launch
- Engages a “boost” mode to maximize acceleration when the brake is released
Bringing Supercar Thrills to Mainstream EVs
We presume said “boost” mode will also temporarily increase the motor’s maximum horsepower to maximize sprinting performance. Hyundai says the technology has been developed especially to appeal to the performance market inhabited by car enthusiasts, and is specifically designed to optimize acceleration during drag racing and other high-performance applications.
We fail to see how this technology substantially differs from current launch-control modes already available on EVs, while engine-sound simulators are also nothing new. However, Hyundai seems to be democratizing the performance usually reserved for expensive sports cars, and for that, it must be applauded.
