While a number of EVs look fit for the witness protection program, grilles could make a comeback thanks to active aerodynamics
Electric vehicle design continues to evolve, but some automakers have waved goodbye to the grille. The ones that haven’t use fully enclosed facsimiles, which are typically hit or miss.
Hyundai Mobis is working to address the issue by making traditional grilles useful in the electric era. As part of this effort, the company has developed an “Integrated Front Face Module” that offers improved aerodynamics as well as a more conventional look.
The module is heavily inspired by active shutter grilles and features components that open and close to reduce drag. However, that’s oversimplifying things as the front end has been equipped with active air curtains, air skirts, grille flaps, and hood vents. These work to improve aerodynamics while also allowing for heat exchange, which optimizes battery cooling efficiency.
Thanks to this dual-purpose design, an electric vehicle’s range can be extended by approximately 12.4 miles (20 km). Hyundai Mobis added the technology is particularly beneficial for crossovers and SUVs as there’s not a lot of options for improving aerodynamics.
The active vents aren’t the only party trick as the front end has an automatic charger retrieval feature as well as a retractable LiDAR sensor. The latter only protrudes while driving, so it’s protected when parked. This could potentially save you from expensive replacement costs.
Besides the aforementioned benefits, the module allows for styling advantages as automakers can use traditional grille designs. This can help their vehicles standout from the ‘faceless’ competition.
More: EVs Make Grilles Passé, Headlight Signatures Now Dominate Design Says Hyundai Boss
Hyundai Mobis noted the latter as they said “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.” They want to differentiate themselves from that trend, while also improving aerodynamic performance.
There’s no word on when we could see road-going models equipped with the new face module, but the company is trying to penetrate foreign markets and expand its order book beyond its traditional Korean buyers.
