Hyundai launches hybrid car in Korea

Global automobile major Hyundai Motor Co. has debuted the Avante LPi Hybrid, its very first hybrid electric car, in an event at the Garden of Moning Calm aboretum in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. Built with a 1.6-liter liquefied petroleum gas engine and electric motor, this newly launched car model is the world’s first of its kind, operating through a combination of LPG engine and electric motor. It is also the world’s first hybrid car which uses lithium-ion polymer batteries available in the market. The car’s entire development lasted for 43 months amounting to 250.8 billion won (US$193.75 million). (July 9, 2009)