Hyundai Mobis Brings Innovative Active Front Grille Tech for EVs

Front grilles might make a comeback on EVs, thanks to this new active aerodynamic tech by Hyundai Mobis.

Often deemed obsolete in many modern EVs nowadays, front grilles might make a surprise comeback, thanks to this latest active aerodynamic tech by Hyundai Mobis. Dubbed the “Integrated Front Face Module,"  the Korean automaker’s tech arm has found ways to make ‘traditional’ front grille design more useful in EVs by adding some active aerotechs to it.

The Integrated Front Face Module features several active air vents positioned around the front part of the car, including two on the front hood.

This whole front grille module is heavily inspired by active shutter grilles present in many EVs nowadays, where it features some active aero components that can be open and closed to reduce the car’s overall drag. This includes both the active air curtains and air skirts that are flanked on either side of the front bumper, plus a set of grille flaps at the centre, and some hood vents.

Hyundai Mobis claims this module can provide an extra 20 KM of range to any EVs using it.

All of these components work together to improve the aerodynamic performance while providing better airflow for heat exchange, which in turn optimises the battery cooling efficiency. As a result, Hyundai Mobis claims that the module will provide an extra EV range of up to 20 KM.

Hyundai Mobis also explained that the module design fits the best on EV SUVs and crossovers, not only due to their bulkier front ends but also because there’s not a lot of options for improving aerodynamics on these kinds of vehicles.

Beyond the active air vents, this whole module also comes with an automatic charger retrieval feature as well as a retractable LiDAR sensor. The latter unit hides when the car is stationary or parked, and it only comes out when you’re driving—potentially saving you thousands from replacing the unit due to petty theft.

This tech allows more EVs to feature a more conventional, ICE-like design, without the need to conform to the typical EV design norms.

With this new technology, Hyundai Mobis hopes that it will help future Hyundai EVs to boast a more conventional look rather than forcing them to adopt the futuristic, streamlined design we see on many EVs nowadays. This revelation also provides automotive designers with more freedom to design their future EVs, as they are no longer restricted by the ‘norm’.

As of now, Hyundai Mobis has yet to mention when this “Integrated Front Face Module” will be ready for any road-going models, or perhaps reserving it for their future EV models. The company, however, did mention that this module will also be made available beyond its native Korean market as part of Hyundai’s EV global expansion move.