Electric SUV from Hyundai, the Ioniq 9, aids in reforestation through the use of drones
Hyundai's Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station Aids Global Forest Restoration
Hyundai Motor Company has developed a unique solution for forest restoration, transforming its Ioniq 9 electric SUV into a mobile command center for deploying drones to plant seed balls over large areas. This innovative approach, named the Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, is currently being used in the Uljin reforestation project, part of Hyundai's global forestry schemes.
The Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station is equipped with a fold-out drone launch/landing pad integrated into the trunk, a high-tech operator workstation with monitors and controls for real-time drone mission management, and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) power supply that charges and powers drones directly from the SUV’s battery. This feature eliminates the need for external generators, minimizing ecological disturbance.
The off-road capability of the Ioniq 9 allows the team to travel directly to areas that require reforesting, even in difficult terrain. The rear cabin of the Ioniq 9 has been transformed to host a swivel seat, dual monitors, and a dedicated drone operation PC, providing a functional mobile office for accessing remote areas of South Korea's East Coast.
The seed balls dispersed by the drones are clay spheres containing soil, organic matter, and seeds. By dropping these onto the ground in need of reforesting, the Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station promotes new tree growth and forest regeneration, especially in areas that are hard to reach by traditional means.
Hyundai's collaboration with reforestation startup Guru E&T ensures the approach is practical and ecologically sensitive. The company plans to roll-out its Ioniq-based drone stations to other forest projects in the near future.
The Uljin reforestation project is part of Hyundai’s broader Ioniq Forest project, active in 13 countries, aiming to support reforestation efforts worldwide by leveraging cutting-edge electric vehicle and drone technology to restore damaged ecosystems sustainably and quietly without disrupting fragile environments.
Hyundai's Ioniq Forest project, launched in 2016, has been part of a global effort to address forestry challenges. In addition to the Uljin project, the company has previously built a drone monitoring station in 2023 using an Ioniq 5 electric SUV for reforesting efforts. The new project in Uljin will contribute to this global scheme, with the hope that by dispersing a wide number of seed balls rapidly across affected areas, reforesting efforts will be faster than by using traditional methods.
[1] Hyundai Motor Company. (n.d.). Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station. Retrieved from https://www.hyundai.com/global/products/ioniq/ioniq-9-seed-ball-drone-station
[2] Hyundai Motor Company. (n.d.). Ioniq Forest Project. Retrieved from https://www.hyundai.com/global/corporate/sustainability/forest-project
[3] Guru E&T. (n.d.). Collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company. Retrieved from https://www.guruet.co.kr/en/collaboration/hyundai-motor-company/
- The innovative Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, developed by Hyundai Motor Company, equips their electric SUV for planting seed balls over large areas, utilizing drone technology for global forest restoration.
- The Ioniq 9 Seed Ball Drone Station is a mobile command center, complete with a drone launch/landing pad, high-tech operator workstation, and V2L power supply, minimizing ecological disturbance.
- The Ioniq 9's off-road capability allows the team to travel directly to challenging terrain for reforestation, making the SUV a functional mobile office for environmental-science projects.
- The seed balls dropped by drones contain soil, organic matter, and seeds, promoting new tree growth and forest regeneration, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
- As part of their Ioniq Forest project, Hyundai collaborates with reforestation startup Guru E&T to ensure their approach is practical and ecologically sensitive.
- Hyundai plans to expand the Ioniq Seed Ball Drone Station to other forest projects worldwide, leveraging EV and drone technology for sustainable ecosystem restoration.
- Hyundai's Ioniq Forest project, which began in 2016, contributes to global reforestation efforts by dispersing seed balls rapidly across affected areas, outpacing traditional methods.
