Hyundai: Charging service with green electricity

The Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai has now announced the switch to renewable energy for its Charge myHyundai charging service. With the help of the Green Charging Option from charging service partner Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), it is ensured that for every withdrawal of driving power from one of the publicly distributed charging stations across Europe, the corresponding amount of green electricity is fed into the grid. The service is available to all Hyundai customers who own battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models. If battery-electric vehicles are recharged with renewable energy, they produce up to 81 percent less CO2 emissions over their entire life cycle, the manufacturer refers to a 2021 study by the International Council of Clean Transportation. The figures refer to the so-called "Well-to-Wheel" energy use – all emissions from generation to transport to consumption of electricity are included.

Guaranteed Green Power

However, drivers often do not know before reaching the charging station whether "green" or "gray" electricity, meaning electricity from renewable or non-renewable sources, is offered there. The operators of the charging stations are responsible for this, according to the manufacturer. Therefore, the so-called Guarantees of Origin (GO) are now used. These certificates of origin not only label the station's electricity as green, but the corresponding amount of green electricity is fed into the grid for each charging process via the app, from sources such as wind or solar power. An independent registration confirms the green origin of the produced electricity and issues a GO certificate for the amount, measured in megawatt-hours (MWh). With each charge, the share of renewable energy in the European market is incidentally increased.

"Hyundai is one of the first automobile manufacturers to offer green charging in Europe. By integrating energy from renewable sources into Charge myHyundai, Hyundai contributes to clean and sustainable mobility for all. This will ensure that green power continues to gain ground," says Michael Cole, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe.

The partnership with DCS gives Hyundai customers access to one of the world's largest public charging networks – with over 300,000 charging points in 29 European countries.

"By working with GO certificates, we guarantee that the energy consumed during charging is 100 percent fed back into the grid – as electricity from European wind farms. This makes the demand for green power visible in the market and helps it continue to gain ground," also believes Jörg Reimann, CEO of Digital Charging Solutions (DCS).

The eco-promise also applies to high-speed charging with the joint venture partner IONITY, which is affordably usable in the premium package, with currently 1,600 fast-charging stations in 24 countries across Europe. The high-speed chargers with a power output of up to 350 kilowatts correspond with the 800-volt technology of the Ioniq 5, which should be recharged from ten to 80 percent in 18 minutes, with five minutes of charging providing power for 100 kilometers. However, the HPC provider has already been relying on green electricity in the grid.

Hyundai Aims for Climate Neutral Operations and Driving by 2045

Last September, the Hyundai Motor Company announced during IAA Mobility 2021 that it aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2045. The focus is on clean mobility, next-generation vehicle architectures, and green energy. This also includes reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other climate gases that are produced during vehicle manufacturing. In July 2021, the company joined the Climate Group’s RE100. This global initiative aims to use 100 percent renewable energy in the future. By the end of 2022, the production site in Nošovice, Czech Republic, will be the first Hyundai factory to completely cover its electricity needs from renewable sources.