Scott Nargar.
Hyundai plans to bring in up to 44 new EV models before 2025.
How many of these models make it to the Australian and New Zealand market largely depends on the uptake of Hyundai’s Kona, Ioniq and Nexo models – and of the success of the just-launched new Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3.
This is the view of Hyundai Australia’s Scott Nargar, future mobility, government relations and customer experience senior manager; speaking to the EV transition conference in Sydney on August 26.
“Consumers need choice. We need more manufacturers with EV models in the market right now, and Hyundai supports competition.
“We’re not going to wait for the government – state or federal – to do something to boost the uptake of EVs. We’re just going to continue to bring in a range of EV models,” adds Nargar.
“No one in Canberra can talk about emission regulations for the next three years, but it’s critical that people in the industry keep talking to politicians, at all levels, about the benefits of EVs.”
Nargar says that people want EVs and, in the case of Hyundai’s Kona, are having to wait up to five months – and they’re prepared to pay “big money for the top of the range models”.
Speaking of Hyundai’s Nexo hydrogen fuel cell EV (FCEV), which has a 750km range,
Nargar says that Hyundai didn’t see fuel cells coming to its range of smaller models – “FCEVs are for larger SUVs and upwards”.
“Hyundai supports and is accelerating the expansion of the hydrogen economy in Australia.”
The EV transition conference continues in Sydney on August 27, with a range of quality speakers from government, academia, manufacturers, charging infrastructure and energy suppliers addressing a host of issues on the way to Australia transitioning to 50% of all vehicle sales being EVs by 2030.
