Hyundai Mobis has announced the creation of an Integrated Front Face Module, which retains the conventional grille design while lowering air resistance and ensuring design diversity. The front face refers to the vehicle’s front section, which includes the lamps, grille, and hood.
Fierce worldwide competition hastens the arrival of the electric vehicle (EV) age by increasing electric consumption efficiency (ECE). Along with the fundamental challenge of improving battery performance, several other options are constantly being investigated, with improvements in aerodynamic performance to reduce air resistance gaining popularity.
Hyundai Mobis has incorporated various cutting-edge technologies into this integrated module, including an aerodynamic system that reduces air resistance and improves ECE. Notable features include a LiDAR that protrudes outward only during driving for design and sensor protection, and an automatic charger retrieval feature that retrieves the charger after charging is completed.
This next-generation EV technology is billed as a pioneering example of enhancing performance, design, and convenience and constructing the EV’s front end as a total package.
The most distinctive feature is a system that automatically opens and closes parts like the grille and hood, reducing air resistance during high-speed driving and improving ECE. This system, which allows the intake of external air and the exhaust of air after heat exchange, improves battery cooling efficiency and controls the airflow. This combined aerodynamic system extends the EV’s range by approximately 20 kilometres.
Electric vehicles typically adopt a streamlined design focused on reducing air resistance by eliminating the radiator grille, leading to a somewhat uniform appearance among passenger electric vehicles. Hyundai Mobis states that it has differentiated itself by maintaining the traditional grille design while improving aerodynamic performance. Additionally, integrating design elements such as LED lighting has enhanced marketability. This technology is particularly beneficial for SUV and CUV electric vehicles, where lowering the vehicle height is challenging.
Technologies have also been applied to enhance design cohesion by preventing external contamination and impacts on sensors. The LiDAR, hidden inside the grille when not in use, protrudes only during driving, achieving both LiDAR protection and an improvement in the front-end design marketability of the vehicle.
Another standout feature is the semi-automatic charging system. Simply plugging in the charger initiates the process, and after complete charging, the charger retrieval and the closing of the charging area’s cap/cover occur automatically. This feature reduces the inconvenience of users manually finishing during charging, presenting an alternative with better cost-effectiveness than charging robots.
