Hyundai Santa Fe EREV is the brand's first model to use an extended powertrain. According to the plan, the car will be launched in the first half of 2027, first in North America, then expanded to other markets.
EREV is a configuration in which the electric motor undertakes power transmission, while the internal combustion engine mainly plays the role of generating additional electricity for the system. This approach helps the car maintain the operating experience of an electric car but reduces dependence on large capacity batteries and charging station networks.
Hyundai aims for the Santa Fe EREV to travel more than 600 miles, equivalent to over 960 km, after each full charge. Notably, the company said that the car's battery pack has less than half the capacity of an equivalent electric car.
This helps EREV become a noteworthy approach in the electrification process. The car still uses electricity for the powertrain, but the internal combustion engine can provide power when the battery needs additional energy, especially on long journeys.
Santa Fe EREV to Australia
Besides North America, Hyundai has confirmed that the Santa Fe EREV will be brought to Australia, although the specific selling time has not been announced.
According to information from the Australian market, Santa Fe EREV is expected to use two electric motors combined with an internal combustion engine. The operating range is expected to be about 966 km.
The full technical specifications of the car have not yet been announced by Hyundai. Therefore, information about battery capacity, power, acceleration capability or fuel consumption still needs to wait for the company to officially announce.
In Australia, Santa Fe currently has gasoline and hybrid engine options, while the plug-in hybrid version has not been distributed. The addition of EREV will help Hyundai expand the electrification option for this SUV line.
Not just Santa Fe
EREV is identified by Hyundai as part of a long-term electrification strategy, rather than just a separate variant of Santa Fe.
Hyundai said the first EREV models will be introduced from 2027, aiming for an operating range of over 600 miles. This technology will then also be expanded to the Genesis brand, with a high-end SUV model said to be aimed at a range of about 1,030 km.
Hyundai's investment in EREV shows that the automotive industry is looking for many different options to promote the transition to electric vehicles. Among them, operating range and charging infrastructure are still factors that make a part of users still consider when choosing pure electric vehicles.
With the Santa Fe EREV, Hyundai is testing an intermediate solution: operating with an electric motor but still having an internal combustion engine as a backup power source. The actual effectiveness of this direction will be verified when the model officially goes on sale in 2027.
