Hyundai’s New Motor Is Smaller, Cheaper, And Ready To Go Into Any EV

• Hyundai Motor Group’s Mobis division has developed a new, modular EV powertrain.
• The 215-horsepower drive unit integrates the motor, inverter, and reduction gear into a single casing.
• Hyundai Mobis says the powertrain has been developed in-house and can be adapted to a variety of EV platforms.

Hyundai Mobis, the Korean auto group’s parts supplier, has developed a new modular electric powertrain that promises compatibility with a multitude of EV platforms.

Boasting a 160-kilowatt (215-horsepower) output, the all-in-one drive unit integrates the electric motor, inverter, and reduction gear into a single housing. The new unit is the second integrated powertrain developed in-house by Hyundai Mobis, after a high-performance 250-kW version, and will be followed by a more cost-conscious, 120 kW version tailored for compact cars within the first half of this year.

What makes this new drive unit stand out from the crowd is Hyundai’s approach to standardization and modular design. Instead of relying on external suppliers to design and manufacture internal components using their specific techniques, Mobis went for a system-level standardization approach. 

In other words, the stator for the drive motor, the inverter, and the power module are interchangeable between the different powertrains, which lowers costs and speeds up manufacturing, according to the parts maker. Hyundai Mobis says it also improved the motor structure by integrating new cooling technology and more energy-efficient power semiconductors.

All of this results in an all-in-one drive unit that has a 16% higher specific power output compared to similar products from other manufacturers, all while the overall volume is nearly 20% lower. It’s also worth noting that two motors can be fitted to an EV—one at the front and one at the rear—which effectively doubles the power output.

With all of this in mind, Hyundai Mobis is now confident that it has a complete lineup of drive systems covering all types of EVs, from compact mobility vehicles to big, high-performance EVs. It also means that repairing future electric models from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis could be faster and cheaper, thanks to the modular design of the new drive units. What’s more, Mobis expects to bring in more money, as it is now capable of designing and mass-producing its own electric powertrains. 

That’s all good news for car buyers, who should gain access to cheaper, more powerful EVs in the near future.