Hyundai Launches 'Affordable' Compact City BEV

Hyundai pulls the wraps off its entry-level urban battery-electric vehicle it hopes will lure consumers away from fossil-fuel vehicles thanks to an ‘affordable’ price tag.

The Inster will sell as an electric version of the South Korean Casper model and is expected to enter the market at 20 million won ($14,378) with the current government subsidy of 6.5 million won ($4,673), albeit no indication of pricing for other global markets has yet been indicated.

The A-segment car makes its first public appearance at today’s Busan International Mobility Show and claims a range between charges from 186 miles to 220 miles (300 to 354 km) in the bigger battery variant.

Bigger than its Casper sibling, the Inster measures 12.5 ft. (3,810 mm) long with a wheelbase of 8.5 ft. (2,591 mm).

It’s fitted with a 42-kWh battery as standard but is available with a Long-Range 49-kWh battery as an option. Both models are powered by a single motor that claims 96 hp in the base variant and 113 hp in the Long-Range car. Both versions offer 108 ft.-lb. (146 Nm) of torque.

When using a 120-kW DC high-power charging station, it claims a 10% to 80% charge in around 30 minutes. The car also comes equipped with an 11-kW on-board charger as standard, while a battery heating system and high-efficiency heat pump are available as options.

The Inster's vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability provides power for external devices (110V/220V) and allows bi-directional charging without requiring additional equipment.

Hyundai says it plans to add an SUV version of the car, to be called Inster Cross, boasting a more rugged, outdoor-focused design.

Simon Loasby, senior vice president and head of the Hyundai Design Center, says: “Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximizes its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. With Inster we're redefining what it means to drive a subcompact EV.”