During the recent 2010 Detroit Auto Show, the concept car from Hyundai captured the spotlight for its unusual form and name. The Blue-Will Plug-In Hybrid received some praises and raised eyebrows at the same time.
The design team of Hyundai calls the look of the car part of their fluidic sculpture architecture. We are not sure if the LED display panel on the grille of the car is part of that idea. We are more however interested with the plug-in hybrid engines of the vehicle.
The Korean carmaker considers the Blue-Will as their concept car which serves as testing grounds for their new ideas. These ideas focus on the future trend of Hyundai hybrid vehicles rolling out of their assembly plants. Some of the cars in the production line up include the 2011 Sonata BlueDrive hybrid due this 2010 with a 2012 model which will will be a plug-in hybrid unit.
Hyundai insiders say that their plug-in units will be dedicated hybrids which will use body designs different from the platform used by the gasoline models. The Blue-Will made its first appearance during the Seoul Auto Show in 2009. The Detroit Auto Show participation is Blue-Will’s North American debut.
The Blue-Will provides enough range on a single charge if it will be based on a recent study that suggests drivers travel daily on an average of 40 miles. The car also uses a lighter battery technology using lithium-polymer cell which utilizes electrolyte in a solid polymer form. Other lithium ion designs make use of the electrolyte in its liquid form. The technology permits Hyundai to pack 16 kW-hr battery compared to what is expected in the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.
Hyundai released the fuel mileage numbers at 50 to 55 miles per gallon driving as a hybrid and about 100 mpg as plug-in hybrid. Overall range comes at 650 miles.