<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"   MORE BREAKING NEWS FROM THE 2008 L.A. AUTO SHOW \u2022 2008 LA AUTO SHOW: All of Our Updates and Analysis in One Place   Hyundai says it plans to beat the timetable for NHTSA&amp;#039;a 35-mpg car-fleet average by an unbelievable five years, which, if true, means the company will meet the standard by 2015. That&amp;#039;s a bold statement from a company with no hybrids in its lineup. Hyundai&amp;#039;s first hybrid, a version of the mid-size Sonata sedan will appear in early 2010.   Dubbed &amp;quot;Hybrid Blue Drive,&amp;quot; Hyundai&amp;#039;s first hybrid marries a 40-hp electric motor with a 2.4-liter four cylinder of undisclosed horsepower. It&amp;#039;s a parallel hybrid system so the car can move via the gas engine, electric power, or some combination of the two.   The electric motor is sandwiched between a 6-speed automatic transmission and an automated clutch. When the clutch is disengaged, only electric power flows to the transmission and then to the front wheels. If the battery pack runs low, an integrated starter/generator fires the engine and the clutch engages to bring the gas motor on line.   Hyundai says the car can travel up to 20 mph and cover eight to 10 miles on electric power only. The battery pack, which according to Hyundai&amp;#039;s John Krafcik, vice president of product development and strategic planning, weighs between 35 and 40 pounds less than a comparable nickel-metal hydride pack, is a lithium polymer design that uses a polymer gel as an electrolyte instead of the usual liquid. These new batteries don&amp;#039;t require a heavy metal casing like regular Li-Ion batteries and use lighter pouches. Eight pouches make up a module and there are nine modules in this battery. The rated capacity is 1.4 kilowatt hours and Hyundai says the battery, which is made by LG Chem, is lighter than conventional Li-Ion units and will last for at least 10 years and 150,000.   It&amp;#039;s way too early to make any guess on fuel economy or what this new technology will cost. Hyundai claims that it&amp;#039;s contained costs by using a conventional six-speed gearbox and a small electric motor. For sure, if Hyundai is going to meet its aggressive fuel-economy targets, we&amp;#039;ll be seeing a lot more hybrids, small cars, and perhaps a diesel in the next few years. \u2014Larry Webster   RELATED STORIES \u2022 PLUS: Hyundai Blue Drive Hints at 2013 Hyundai Plug-In  \u2022 DRIVE GREEN: 2009 Genesis Fuel Economy Test Drive  \u2022 EARLIER: Hyundai Shows Off Its Hip Sportswagon at Chicago Auto Show  \u2022 2008 LA AUTO SHOW: All of Our Updates and Analysis in One Place   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a12192/4292688/>