Innovation in Motion: The Story Behind Hyundai Motor Group’s 2-Stage Motor System
How Hyundai Motor Group’s advances in electrification are redefining performance and efficiency
Electric vehicles are transforming the way we move, but what defines a truly great EV experience? Customers today expect thrilling performance and efficiency – and Hyundai Motor Group’s advanced motor technology delivers exactly that.
Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 N and Kia’s EV6 GT prove that EVs can engage drivers in ways we’ve not seen before, balancing this with exceptional every-day usability and refinement. The technology behind this blend of attributes, broadening the operating window of the Group’s EVs, is innovation in motion.
In this article, we’ll explore Hyundai Motor Group’s 2-Stage Motor System in detail, explaining how this award-winning technology delivers both supercar-level performance and exceptional energy efficiency – something that, up until now, has been considered unattainable.
What Makes Hyundai’s 2-Stage Motor System a Global EV Game-Changer?
At the heart of this system are three essential components:
- The inverter – converts DC power from the battery into AC power for the motor
- The motor – generates rotational force
- The reducer – transfers this force to the wheels
The EV power electric system consists of three essential components: inverter, motor and reducer
Expanding Voltage Utilization
An EV’s power output depends on the voltage and current the battery can deliver to the motor (or motors) via the inverter. Traditionally, increasing current resulted in heavier propulsion systems and greater heat management challenges. Motor systems optimized for high output in this way often compromise efficiency during everyday driving, but Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D innovations have overcome this challenge by rethinking the inverter.
The system operates intelligently based on Hyundai Motor Group’s smart dual-mode control, split across the following conditions:
- City driving– uses a single set of switches for optimal efficiency
- High performance– activates both sets of switches to deliver maximum power
Advanced Control Architecture
Hyundai Motor Group developed proprietary control algorithms to ensure seamless transitions between these two modes.
Doubling the number of switches was not just a hardware upgrade – it required a complete redesign of the control system.
Compact and High-Performance Design
Despite the added complexity, the inverter remains compact thanks to Hyundai Motor Group’s in-house power module design. Each module houses the power semiconductor switches and provides packaging that ensures heat dissipation and electrical insulation.
Why Hyundai Motor Group’s 2-Stage Motor System Innovations Matter
This 2-Stage Motor System is the only setup of its kind to achieve both high performance and efficiency – this technology represents a major leap forward in EV engineering, delivering thrilling driving experiences without compromising sustainability.
This innovation earned the Presidential Award at the 2024 Korea Technology Awards, the nation’s highest honor for technological excellence – underscoring Hyundai Motor Group’s leadership in EV innovation.
The 2-Stage Motor System is already powering high-performance EVs, such as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 6 N, IONIQ 9, and the all-new NEXO FCEV, as well as the Kia EV6 GT, EV9, and EV9 GT, setting a new benchmark for electric mobility worldwide.
Hyundai Motor Group aims to make advanced EV technology more accessible and transparent – helping customers appreciate the engineering that powers their driving experience. As electric mobility continues to evolve, innovations like this 2-Stage Motor System will remain central to delivering both excitement and efficiency, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to shaping a smarter, more sustainable future.
Contacts
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Wolfgang Würth
Director PR & Communications
[email protected]Adriana Cerami
Head of Corporate & Brand PR
[email protected]Elvira Vella-Herrera
Executive & Internal Communications Senior Expert
[email protected]Maria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
[email protected]Patricia Lammers
Corporate Communications Expert
[email protected]Conor Twomey
Head of Product PR
[email protected]Adrian Péré
Product PR Manager
[email protected]Katharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
