Hyundai Motor plans roll out of plug-in hybrid in 2013

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SEOUL, April 5 (Reuters): Hyundai Motor Company, the world's fifth-biggest automaker along with affiliate Kia Motors Corp, plans to mass produce a plug-in hybrid version of its Sonata sedan in 2013, a media report said Monday. Hyundai had completed development of the plug-in hybrid and had been conducting test runs of a prototype model, the Chosun Ilbo reported, citing industry officials. A Hyundai spokesperson said the company planned to launch a plug-in hybrid in 2013, but had not decided which model to roll out. Plug-in hybrids can be recharged at home from the mains supply, unlike conventional gasoline-electric hybrid cars that are recharged only when the driver applies the brakes. Hyundai and Kia have been laggards in the global electric car race, focusing more on fuel-efficient gasoline vehicles. General Motors Company has introduced the plug-in hybrid Volt, while Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Company Limited plan to launch plug-in hybrids in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Hyundai plans to launch a hybrid version of the Sonata, its first global hybrid model, in South Korea in May, while Kia eyes rollouts of the Optima Hybrid the same month here. "There are hurdles to (the takeoff of) pure electric vehicles because of the short driving range and lack of charging facilities," the Chosun Ilbo quoted a Hyundai official as saying.