The Hyundai Propane Hybrid

I love to write about new and innovative vehicles that will help us become oil free, and the Hyundai Propane Hybrid is one of them. As far as I know, there is no other propane hybrid vehicle in the world, making this one of a kind.

Recently, Toyota announced the natural gas Camry at the LA auto show which will join the Honda Civic GX as the only OEM CNG vehicles available to the public. Having the Hyundai would give us yet another gasoline alternative. You can buy propane fueled vehicles today that have either been converted or have come from fleets, but they originally were not offered to the public.

Here is some info from Greencar.com:

"Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. has developed and will soon market a hybrid electric vehicle that combines hybrid power with an alternative fuel, in this case LPG (liquid propane gas, or propane). This is the first time that a major automaker has moved in this direction with LPG, which is a popular alternative fuel in some countries but a distant candidate for the job in the U.S. Several automakers, including Ford with its E85 ethanol Escape Hybrid demonstrator, are actively exploring ways to remove gasoline from the hybrid equation.

Hyundai's Avante/Elantra LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) model also accomplishes a first with its use of advanced lithium-polymer (Li-Po) batteries with an internal combustion engine. It will use Hyundai's 1.6 liter, four-cylinder Gamma engine. A 20 hp (15 kW) DC electric motor and continuously variable transmission (CVT) are used in a mild hybrid configuration. Hyundai has not provided fuel economy numbers but says they will be competitive."

This car would be PERFECT if it came with a plug and the ability to run on electric for 10 miles or so.

I live in Ohio and there are propane fueling stations everywhere, so having one of these cars would be great. The natural gas vehicles are more difficult to refuel as there are only three stations in all of central Ohio.