Hyundai Motor Company has completed the development of the IONIQ 9-based Seed Ball Drone Station to support forest restoration projects in Korea, following the launch of the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station in 2023.
The new project will begin in Uljin, a region on Korea’s East Coast that was severely affected by widespread wildfires in 2022.
In June of last year, Hyundai Motor signed a five-year partnership agreement with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute, a subsidiary of the Korea Forest Service, and Tree Planet, a social venture specializing in tree planting. Through this collaboration, the company has conducted forest monitoring and data collection activities using the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station to assist in restoring areas affected by wildfires along Korea’s East Coast.
The newly developed IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station is a specially designed vehicle based on Hyundai Motor’s flagship electric SUV, IONIQ 9, in collaboration with Guru E&T, a startup specializing in reforestation solutions and technologies. It is equipped to facilitate tree planting, monitoring and restoration of damaged forest areas.
The station incorporates advanced features, such as a drone takeoff and landing platform built into the trunk, providing excellent operational flexibility. The vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging system enables the vehicle to autonomously supply power required for drone operations directly onboard.
The system is designed for zero tailpipe emissions and low-noise, low-vibration operation, ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem. With its off-road driving capabilities, the IONIQ 9 drone station can also reliably access remote forest areas and conduct restoration efforts with stability.
The station’s large seed ball drone enables efficient tree planting in areas that are difficult for people to access. The drone disperses seed balls — clay spheres containing a mixture of soil, organic matter and seeds — from the air, making large-scale reforestation both practical and effective.
IONIQ 9’s spacious rear cabin has been equipped with a swivel seat, dual monitors and a dedicated drone operation PC, creating a high-precision integrated control system. This transforms the SUV into a fully functional mobile office, significantly enhancing its utility for field operations.
By adding the IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station to its ongoing Smart Forest Restoration Program, alongside the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station, Hyundai Motor aims to accelerate reforestation across the wildfire-affected regions near Uljin and the East Coast.
The forest being created in Uljin is part of Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ Forest project, a global CSR project launched in 2016 that engages customers and local communities in forest-building. The project addresses social and environmental challenges through themed forest projects, and has expanded to 13 countries, including the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, India and the Czech Republic. The company aims to expand the IONIQ lineup-based drone stations to global IONIQ Forest projects in the future.
