Hyundai's Ioniq 9 electric SUV is utilizing drones for reforestation efforts.
In a groundbreaking move, Hyundai has developed a custom version of its Ioniq 9 electric SUV, transforming it into a mobile office for reforestation efforts. Known as the Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, this innovative vehicle is part of Hyundai's global Ioniq Forest project, an initiative launched in 2016 and active in 13 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Vietnam, and South Korea.
The Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station is equipped with a fold-out drone launch and landing pad in the trunk, a control station inside formed by folding the third-row seats, and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that powers the drones, enabling quiet, emission-free operations in remote ecosystems. This cutting-edge technology allows the drone to drop seed balls—small clay spheres containing soil, organic matter, and seeds—over wildfire-ravaged or hard-to-reach forest areas, encouraging new plant growth without the need for direct human planting in hazardous or inaccessible zones.
Hyundai's approach combines advanced electric vehicle technology with drone-based seed dispersal, creating a sustainable, efficient, and minimally disruptive method of ecological restoration. This initiative follows Hyundai's earlier Ioniq 5 Monitoring Drone Station, highlighting an ongoing commitment to smart forest restoration using EV and drone technologies.
The new project in Uljin, South Korea, is one of Hyundai's forestry schemes across 13 different countries. Hyundai hopes that by dispersing a wide number of seed balls rapidly across affected areas, reforesting efforts in Uljin will be faster than by using traditional methods. The off-road ability of the Ioniq 9 allows the team to travel directly to areas that require reforesting, further enhancing the efficiency of the project.
In 2024, Hyundai entered into a five-year partnership with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute, further strengthening its commitment to environmental conservation. As part of this partnership, Hyundai plans to roll-out its Ioniq-based drone stations to its forest projects in the future, continuing to push the boundaries of technology in the service of reforestation.
- The Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, part of Hyundai's Ioniq Forest project, is an innovative car equipped with a V2L system that powers drones for emission-free seed dispersal, utilizing electric vehicle technology.
- Hyundai has transformed its Ioniq 9 electric SUV into a mobile office for reforestation efforts,with a fold-out drone launch and landing pad, and a control station created by folding the third-row seats.
- This cutting-edge vehicle is designed to drop seed balls over wildfire-ravaged or hard-to-reach forest areas,encouraging new plant growth without the need for direct human planting in hazardous or inaccessible zones.
- The Ioniq 9's off-road ability allows the team to travel directly to areas that require reforesting, enhancing the efficiency of the project.
- In 2024, Hyundai entered into a five-year partnership with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute, further strengthening its commitment to environmental conservation.
- As part of this partnership, Hyundai plans to roll-out its Ioniq-based drone stations to its forest projects in the future,pushing the boundaries of technology in the service of reforestation.
- The initiative is just one example of how science, climate-change, and environmental-science intersect with technology, gadgets like smartphones, and motoring, promote sustainability and innovation for the benefit of the environment.
