The Casper Electric embodies a commitment to democratizing electric vehicles.
Hyundai Motor Company held a tech briefing for the Casper Electric on the 6th at the JBK Convention Center in Gangnam, Seoul.
The Casper Electric is a testament to Hyundai’s determination to lead the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. “It’s a compact electric vehicle, but we aimed for a range of over 300 km during the development stage,” said Jihun Ji, the engineer behind the Casper Electric. He emphasized that the battery capacity has increased and the wheelbase has been extended by 180mm, resulting in a model that meets these goals.
The first notable aspect of the Casper Electric is its enlarged body. It has grown 230mm longer and 15mm wider compared to internal combustion engine models, measuring in at 3,825 × 1,610 × 1,605mm. With this increase in size, the previous wheelbase of 2,400mm has now expanded to 2,580mm. Previously, it was very difficult for an adult male to sit in the second row; however, now there is enough knee space for a fist to fit comfortably in front. The second-row seats can slide forward and backward by up to 80mm, and both front and rear seats can fold flat, enabling camping trips as well.
The cargo space has also expanded by 100mm. It can carry an additional 47 liters of cargo compared to the internal combustion engine model, allowing a total capacity of 280 liters. When the second row is folded down, a maximum cargo space of 351 liters becomes available. You can even fit a small refrigerator in the Casper Electric, making it a versatile workhorse.
With the larger body comes a significant increase in battery capacity. Equipped with a 49kWh lithium-ion battery, it can travel a maximum of 315km on a full charge. You can make a direct trip from the Meeting Plaza in Seoul to Gwangju Songjeong Station (286km) without needing a recharge. If charging is necessary, there’s no need for concern; it can recharge from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes.
The Casper Electric doesn’t just boast its battery and space; it also has a hidden safety feature. This is the Pedal Miss Safety Assistant (PMSA) technology. The PMSA technology recognizes when the driver aggressively presses the accelerator within one meter of a stopped or parked vehicle and identifies it as a misoperation, controlling the torque and applying the brakes. Hajeongwoo, the engineer leading the PMSA technology development, stated, “This was created to prevent accidents due to pedal misoperations, especially with the rising number of elderly drivers.”
Some may confuse this PMSA technology with parking collision avoidance assistance. Hajeongwoo explained, “Parking collision avoidance assistance detects oncoming objects, but PMSA technology prevents sudden acceleration when an object is already detected.” This means that when there is an obstacle within one meter while the car is stationary, if the driver pushes the accelerator harshly, it is interpreted that this is not the driver’s intention, and the power is controlled to prevent moving forward. The car’s cluster displays a pop-up message indicating to apply the brakes, along with a warning sound to alert the driver.
However, there are certain conditions for the PMSA to activate. It operates if the accelerator is pressed fully within a time frame of 0.25 seconds, within a steering angle of 430 degrees, and on a slope of 25 degrees or less. Therefore, it does not activate under everyday driving circumstances. Nevertheless, there has been a global increase in accidents caused by pedal misoperation. Hajeongwoo mentioned, “There will be new ACPE (Acceleration Control for Pedal Error) regulations set to take effect in June next year under the UNECE. We will work on evolving PMSA to version 2.0 to comply with these regulations.”
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr