Hyundai Motor Co. has announced plans to debut a small electric car at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month. The new model will be based on the i10 mini-car platform, but it is not clear when Hyundai will deliver a production model to market.

The electric i10 is a part of Hyundai’s new corporate mission to become one of the four major green car automakers. That plan will see the Korean automaker deliver several new alternative-fuel models over the next few years. Hyundai has already announced it will bring a lithium-ion hybrid version of the upcoming Sonata to market, and promises plug-in hybrids by 2012. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also expected.