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NEWS
CHICAGO MOTOR SHOW: Kia's first EV
All-electric Kia makes world debut just days before the new Soul hits AustraliaKia has staged the world debut of its first mass-market electric vehicle at yesterday’s Chicago Auto Show opening, just days before the second-generation Soul on which it’s based goes on sale in Australia.
The Soul EV hits US showrooms in the third quarter of 2014 and will also become available in the UK and Europe later this year, but there are no plans to release it – or the updated Optima Hybrid also revealed at Chicago – in Australia.
While our new Soul will be available only with a 113kW petrol engine – and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions – the Soul EV is fitted with an 81.4kW electric motor and advanced lithium-ion polymer battery, which are said to provide 130-160km of emissions-free driving.
Located beneath the floor, the air-cooled 360-volt, 27kWh battery has an energy density of 200Wh/kg and features a nickel-cobalt-manganese cathode to help increase capacity. It also employs a graphite-based anode to aid durability while reducing weight, and its 96 cells use a gel electrolyte, with each cell containing ceramic separators to improve thermal stability and safety.
This is combined with Kia’s third-generation regenerative braking system to capture up to 12 per cent of the car’s kinetic energy, which is fed back into the battery while the Soul EV is coasting and braking.
There are four different regeneration modes: ‘Drive’ or ‘Brakes’ with Eco-mode on or off, with Brakes/Eco producing the most regeneration.
The Soul EV comes with two charging ports behind a sliding door in the grille, and can be charged via a standard 120-volt (US) power outlet, a 240-volt EV charger or 480-volt fast-charger.
Kia says recharging times vary from 24 hours for a fully depleted battery using a standard 120-volt outlet and less than five hours when plugged into a 240-volt EV charger. An 80 per cent charge can be achieved in as little as 33 minutes with a 50kW charger.
The plug-in Soul’s liquid-cooled AC synchronous permanent magnet motor uses multi-layer magnets to help improve efficiency and reduce the whine common in many EVs.
Kia claims its motor can drive the front wheels to 60mph (97km/h) in less than 12 seconds and on to a top speed of 90mph (145km/h).
It says the battery’s location and extra cross-bracing beneath it lower centre of gravity and contribute to a 5.9 per cent increase in torsional rigidity over the standard Soul, aiding stability and handling.
Improved aerodynamics and special sound-proofing materials also reduce noise, but the Soul EV is equipped with a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) that emits an auditory alert at speeds below 12mph and when the car is in reverse, in the interests of pedestrian safety.
Rear legroom is reduced by about 75mm compared to the standard model and cargo space is also down, but Kia says the Soul EV still offers more rear-seat legroom than any key competitor.
Kia’s first EV wears a larger grille to accommodate its charging ports, different front and rear colour accents, projector headlights, LED positioning lamps, LED tail-lights, unique 16-inch wheels, low rolling resistance tyres and ‘Eco Electric’ badging.
Three two-tone paint jobs highlighting the Soul’s trademark ‘floating’ roof will also be unique to the EV: Pearl White lower body with Electronic Blue roof, Caribbean Blue with Clear White roof and Bright Silver with Clear White roof.
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Written byCarsales Staff
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