Hyundai Motor Company decided to repair every one of its electric bus that it has sold so far at free of charge due to a flaw to electric motor. This is the first time Hyundai Motor Company decided to take action on all of its electric buses it has sold so far since the electric bus market opened.
Electric motor that is causing an issue is a next-generation in-wheel motor that was developed as part of a national project. Since Hyundai Motor Company started its electric bus business, its customers have been consistently bringing up issues with faulty motor. Although Hyundai is planning to introduce an improved electric motor, it is unclear whether there will not be any issue anymore with in-wheel motor.
According to the industry, Hyundai Motor Company recently sent official papers to 20 South Korean transportation companies regarding its plan to repair flaws of in-wheel motor at free of charge.
253 “ELEC CITY” buses that were sold between November 20 of 2018 and February 28 of 2020 will be subjected to free repairs by Hyundai Motor Company. Considering the fact that Hyundai Motor Company started selling its electric bus in the second half of 2018, 253 electric buses are basically entire electric buses that Hyundai Motor Company has sold so far.
According to Hyundai’s official paper, Hyundai is planning to conduct free repairs as there has been unusual noise coming from ELEC CITY while it is on the road and it believes that abrasion and separation of in-wheel motor’s rotor is the cause.
Transportation companies saw that ELEC CITY buses making noise and forming iron powder due to abrasion and separation as decelerator’s gears of in-wheel motor did not operate smoothly. Some buses even experienced power-operated breaking system failing as the issue with in-wheel motor had happened repeatedly.
Hyundai Motor Company has been recalling buses due to the in-wheel motor issue since it started its electric bus business in 2018 and it has been criticized by its customers.
In-wheel motor is a next-generation electric vehicle electric motor that was developed by Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai-Rotem, Hyundai Dymos, and Korea Automotive Technology Institute in 2014 as part of a national project. Unlike how single motor operates two rear wheels for current cars, there is one in-wheel motor attached to each wheel. In-wheel motor maximizes independent control of each wheel and it can lower the weight of a car by minimizing number of power transmission devices such as differential gear and shaft. Also, it is made small in order to minimize noise and vibration and ultimately provide a pleasant driving performance.
“Since Hyundai Motor Company started selling ELEC CITY in 2018, there have been many cases when ELEC CITY died on the road due to a flaw to in-wheel motor.” said a representative for a transportation company. “Buses that go on routes that include many hills were affected heavily.”
“Based on our judgment, we decided to repair all 253 ELEC CITY buses at free of charge.” said a representative for Hyundai Motor Company. “We are going to do our best to eliminate any inconvenience for our customers and to raise completeness by installing improved in-wheel motors.”
According to the Automobile Management Act’s enforcement regulations, this measure by Hyundai Motor Company is taken based on Hyundai’s judgement. Free repair is usually provided when it involves a flaw such as corrosion, noise, or vibration that does not cause a danger to vehicle safety. On the other hand, a recall involves an automotive manufacturer informing its customers about a flaw that can affect vehicle safety after it finds the flaw and taking measures such as repair and exchange or refund.
Staff Reporter Park, Taejoon | gaius@etnews.com