Hyundai Motor Company has finalized development of the IONIQ 9-based Seed Ball Drone Station, designed to aid forest restoration efforts in Korea. This initiative follows the 2023 debut of the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station. The new project will launch in Uljin, a region on Korea’s East Coast that experienced extensive wildfire damage in 2022.
In June of the previous year, Hyundai Motor entered a five-year partnership with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute—part of the Korea Forest Service—and Tree Planet, a social venture focused on tree planting. This collaboration has enabled forest monitoring and data collection through the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station to support reforestation along the East Coast.
The IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, based on Hyundai’s flagship electric SUV, was developed in partnership with Guru E&T, a startup specializing in reforestation technology. The vehicle is purpose-built for forest restoration, supporting activities such as tree planting and environmental monitoring.
Key features include an integrated drone takeoff and landing platform in the trunk, offering high operational flexibility. The onboard vehicle-to-load (V2L) system supplies power directly to the drones, enabling autonomous operation.
With its zero-emissions design, quiet and low-vibration performance, and off-road driving capabilities, the IONIQ 9 Drone Station is well-suited for accessing remote forest areas and conducting restoration work while minimizing environmental impact.
The station’s large-capacity seed ball drone enables efficient reforestation in areas that are challenging for human access. By dispersing seed balls—clay spheres filled with soil, organic material, and seeds—from the air, the drone makes large-scale tree planting both feasible and effective.
Inside, the IONIQ 9’s spacious rear cabin is outfitted with a swivel seat, dual monitors, and a dedicated drone control PC, creating a high-precision, integrated command center. This setup transforms the electric SUV into a fully operational mobile office, greatly enhancing its functionality for field missions.
By integrating the IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station into its ongoing Smart Forest Restoration Program—alongside the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station—Hyundai Motor aims to accelerate reforestation in wildfire-impacted regions around Uljin and Korea’s East Coast.
The forest being cultivated in Uljin is part of Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ Forest initiative, a global CSR project launched in 2016 that encourages community and customer participation in reforestation. The program tackles social and environmental challenges through themed forest projects and has expanded to 13 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Vietnam, India, and the Czech Republic. Looking ahead, Hyundai plans to deploy IONIQ lineup-based drone stations as part of its global IONIQ Forest projects.
Source: hyundai.com