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Hyundai links up with US firm on electric trucks and renewables

Utah Governor Gary Herbert Congratulates Hyundai Heavy Industries Chairman Dr. K.S. Min and Raser Chairman Kraig Higginson

Utah cleantech company Raser Technologies is to work with manufacturing giant Hyundai to develop renewable energy and electric vehicle technology.

The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for two projects, intended to pave the way for a long-term relationship.

The arrangement will see Hyundai building electric fleet vehicles using Raser’s powertrain technology.

The second project will see the two companies working together on a solar power project at Raser’s Thermo geothermal power plant site in southern Utah.

Hyundai Heavy Industries chairman Dr KS Min said: “We are committed to meeting the challenges of global climate change in the two key industries that can reduce fossil fuel emissions the most, renewable energy and electric vehicles.”

Vehicles

Raser and Hyundai will develop three extended-range electric trucks for US government and commercial fleet customers through their partnership.

The first vehicles are expected later this year, to be provided to Californian utility Pacific Gas and Electric.

Raser has developed a powertrain system for light trucks that it says allows the vehicles to run up to 40 miles in electric-only mode.

The system means large V8 engines can be replaced with smaller 2.0 liter engines, offering gas mileage of “over 100mpg” for typical daily use.

Renewables

The solar project is to consist of five megawatts of photovoltaic solar panels and associated transmission equipment provided by Hyundai, making the most of Raser’s large property portfolio in Utah.

Co-located with Raser’s existing geothermal plant, the solar project could eventually be joined by a new wind farm as the two companies seek to demonstrate a “zero-emissions blended renewable” (ZEBRA) system of hybrid clean energy technology.

Ultimately, the two companies believe the project could reach 300MW in size, offering balanced “baseload” power most valuable to utilities.

Raser executive vice president Richard Clayton said: “When completed, the project will be the first phase in demonstrating the potential value of HHI and Raser’s relationship in developing renewable energy projects on Raser’s sizable holdings, where all three renewable resources – geothermal, solar and wind – coexist in close proximity to existing transmission lines.”