Battle for Hybrid Cars to Heat Up Next Year

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/03/123_21222.html

Fuel-efficient and environment-friendly hybrid cars are expected to be more readily available for Korean drivers next year. Toyota(Prius, Camry Hybrid), Honda(Civic Hybrid) on the Korean market last year and will release a smaller hybrid car by 2009. After Toyota's announcement, Hyundai Motor said it will mass-produce hybrid cars in Korea next year. Huyndai has produced the hybrid versions its compact "Click" and "Verna" models and Kia's "Pride" have been provided to government agencies. Hyundai plans to release a hybrid model of its "Avante" ― sold as "Elantra'' worldwide ― next year. This will be its first mass-produced hybrid.
Then the motor company will expand its hybrid lineup to include sedans such as the "Sonata" by 2010. Kia Motors is also researching a hybrid version of the "Mohave" a large sport utility vehicle (SUV), and "Lotze" a mid-size car. Kia plans to market the hybrid vehicles by 2010.

Hybrid cars use a rechargeable energy storage system to enhance fuel efficiency. These vehicles reuse energy spent while braking. The system converts the kinetic energy of the car into electrical energy and stores it in a battery. By the way, this battery produces in LG chemistry. LG Chem said in a statement that it would supply lithium-ion polymer batteries to the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, which will begin mass-production of hybrid motor vehicles from 2009.