Kia Soul EV explained

Kia e-Soul
Manufacturer:Kia
Production:2014–2023
Class:Battery-electric subcompact car
Body Style:4-door hatchback
Related:Kia Soul
Engine:Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous Electric Motor
Motor:2015 - 2019: 81.40NaN02020 - present: 1500NaN0[1]
Battery:Lithium-ion polymer battery2015 - 2017: 30.5 kW·h

2018 - 2020: 31.8 kW·h2020 - present: 64 kW·h[2]

Range:2015 - 2017: 93miles2018 - 2020: 111miles2020 - 2023: 243miles
Successor:Kia EV3[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The Kia Soul EV (also known as Kia e-Soul) is an all-electric subcompact hatchback manufactured by Kia and based on the Kia Soul. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2020 Kia Soul EV is 243 miles (391 km).[8]

Deliveries of the first generation began in South Korea in May 2014. European sales began in July 2014. Sales started in the U.S. in October 2014; initially it was sold only in California, Oregon, and several Eastern states with the largest EV markets and infrastructure including New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Global sales exceeded the 10,000 unit milestone in January 2016, with Europe as the leading market with 6,770 units sold. Germany was the leading European market with 3,853 units sold through December 2015.

A second generation was introduced in 2019 for the 2020 model year, sold in both Europe and Canada. It was delayed until 2021 for the US market.[9]

History

In 2013, Kia began testing prototype versions of a Soul electric vehicle. In November 2013, Kia announced they would be producing a Soul EV and that it would go on sale in 2014. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.[10] The first-generation Soul EV was based on the second-generation Kia Soul.

First generation

The first-generation Soul EV was powered by a 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and 30 kWh for 2018 model year.[11] It is capable of 100 kW DC CHAdeMO rapid charging.[12] The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official range for the 2015 model year Soul EV is 93miles and rated it at 105 MPGe (105mpgus equivalent) combined.[13], the Soul EV had the largest EPA-rated all-electric range in city driving of its class, at 104miles.[14] The motor is rated at 81.4 kW (109 bhp) and 285 Nm (210 lb.-ft).[15]

For the 2018 model year, Kia announced a small 11% battery upgrade. By adding 8 cells to the pack, the usable cell capacity increased from 37.5 Ah to 40 Ah out of 42.4 Ah, increasing the battery pack storage capacity to 30 kWh.[16] [17]

Second generation

For the 2020 model year, Kia announced a significant battery upgrade to a 64 kWh LiPo battery pack, doubling capacity and range from the previous generation.[18] [19] [20] With a redesign, the EV will be the only variant to be offered in Europe[21] while only the gasoline version is offered in the US for MY2020 and onwards.[22] Both gasoline and EV versions continue to be offered in Canada.[23]

The motor is rated at 201 hp.

This vehicle is the third in the series of long range EVs put on the market by Hyundai-Kia, after the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV.

Specifications

MY 2016-2017 MY 2018-2019MY 2020
Nominal capacity (gross) 30,5 kWh (192 x 42,36 Ah x 3,75 V) 31,8 kWh (200 x 42,36 Ah x 3,75 V)64 kWh
Usable capacity (net) 27 kWh (192 x 37,5 Ah x 3,75 V) 30 kWh (200 x 40 Ah x 3,75 V)
Number of cells 192 (96s2p) 200 (100s2p) 294
Battery weight 277 kg 290 kg 457 kg
Rated voltage 360 V 375 V 356 V
Rapid charging standardCHAdeMO (up to 100 kW)CHAdeMO (up to 100 kW)CCS (up to 100 kW)
Battery coolingairairliquid
Motor power109 hp (81.4 kW)109 hp (81.4 kW)201 hp (204 PS)
Torque210 lb.-ft. (285 Nm)210 lb.-ft. (285 Nm)291 lb.-ft. (395 Nm)
0-60 mph time9,5 s9,2 s7,6 s

Range

MY 2016-2017 MY 2018-MY 2020
EPA range 93 miles (150 km) 111 miles (182 km - 21% increase)243 miles (390 km)
NEDC range 212 km 250 km – 18% increase
South Korean cycle 148 km 180 km – 22% increase
WLTP range 452 km

Production and sales

First generation

Production of the Soul EV began in South Korea in April 2014. Pricing in the South Korean market started at 42 million won (~), before a 50% government subsidy. Kia set a global sales target of 5,000 units for 2014.[24] Deliveries began in South Korea in May 2014, with 38 units delivered.[25] [26]

On June 12, 2014, Kia began production of the Soul EV for export. The first vehicles off the production line went to select European countries.[24] [27] European retail deliveries began in July 2014.[24] [28]

Sales started in the U.S. in October 2014 as 2015 model year.[29] Initially it was sold only in California, but in March 2015, Kia Motors North America announced the Soul EV would be available in Georgia in the second quarter of 2015, and Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Texas would receive the EV later in the year.[30] 2016 Kia Soul EVs began sales in Washington state in late July 2015.[31] It was available in two trims, with pricing starting at before any applicable government incentives.[32]

In November 2014, the Kia Soul EV went on sale in the UK for £24,995 after the government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant.[33]

Kia announced the 2016 Soul EV would come in three trims: EV-e, EV, and EV+. The EV-e was only available in California. A Sun & Fun package on the EV+ added a sunroof, and lighting for the speakers and interior. Other minor changes and colors were introduced.[34]

Global sales passed the 5,000 unit mark in August 2015, of which 1,177 were sold in South Korea.[35] The 10,000 unit milestone was reached in January 2016, with Europe as the leading market with 6,770 units sold, followed by South Korea with 1,580, and the United States with 1,411.[36], the leading European markets were Germany with 3,853 units sold,[37] [38] and Norway with 1,637 units.[39] [40]

During 2015, 2,044 Soul EVs were imported to Norway as used cars.[41] The magazine Der Spiegel claimed that Kia registered the cars in Germany and then shipped them to Norway, which does not belong to the European Union. This legal[42] loophole helped the Hyundai-Kia Group lower its average fleet emissions, avoiding a hefty fine.

Second generation

The 2020 Kia Soul EV costs 319,900 NOK (US$36,600)[43] in Norway, less than its internal competitor, the Hyundai Kona Electric and considerably less than the larger Kia Niro EV (another potential competitor, the Chevrolet Bolt, is no longer imported to Europe via official channels).

With demand for EVs reportedly exceeding battery supply, Hyundai-Kia decided to divert batteries to the production of the more expensive Kia Niro (the Niro and the Soul share the same battery), which was the claimed reason for limiting Soul EV production and delaying entry into the US market until 2021.[44]

The Soul EV is the only variant of the Soul sold in Europe. In the first ten months of 2020, European sales totaled 6,768 units.[45]

Marketing

For the 2014 SEMA Show, Kia Motors unveiled a custom Soul EV with a red and white Smitten Ice Cream livery and a refrigerated trailer.[46]

In August 2014, Kia Motors introduced the 2015 Soul EV hamster commercial featuring "Animals" by Maroon 5.[47]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. First-gen: 81.4kW (109bhp)/201 hp (204 PS), torque 285 Nm (210 lb.-ft) to 291 lb.-ft (395 Nm)
  2. First-gen: 30.5 kW·h lithium-ion polymer battery, 27 kW·h usable
  3. Web site: Kia's compact EV3 will land later this month to target the Volvo EX30 . 2024-06-16 . Top Gear . en.
  4. Web site: Lopez . Jose Antonio . 2023-10-02 . KIA EV3 Confirmed as Soul Electric Replacement . 2024-06-16 . Korean Car Blog . en-US.
  5. Web site: Kia EV3 world premiere confirmed ahead of summer launch . 2024-06-16 . electrive.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: Kia primes soul ev's successor - 20 Sep 2023 - Autocar Magazine - Readly . 2024-06-16 . gb.readly.com . en.
  7. Web site: 2024 Kia EV3 is sub-£30k baby SUV to replace Soul EV . 2024-06-16 . Autocar . en.
  8. Web site: New Kia Soul Gets Official EPA Range Of 243 Miles (391 km) — Charts! . . 15 February 2019.
  9. Web site: New Kia Soul EV Delayed until 2021 for U.S. Buyers . Car and Driver . 19 October 2019 . 12 August 2020.
  10. News: Undercoffler . David . Chicago Auto Show: Kia unveils all-electric Soul EV . L.A. Times. 6 February 2014 . 6 February 2014 .
  11. Web site: 2018 Kia Soul EV Vehicle Features Kia. KIA. www.kia.com. 2018-02-11.
  12. Web site: Kia Soul EV coming in 2014 with range of more than 120 miles. My Electric Car Forums. 11 November 2013. Mike Szostech.
  13. Web site: 2015 Kia Soul Electric. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2014-09-12. 2014-09-12.
  14. Web site: 2015 Kia Soul EV Gets Official EPA Range Rating Of 93 Miles – City Range Will Blow Your Mind. Eric Loveday. InsideEVs.com. 2014-09-12. 2014-09-12.
  15. Web site: Power electric specifications KIA Soul EV 2017 2.G Owner's Manual. www.carmanualsonline.info. 2017-03-13.
  16. Web site: 2018 Kia Soul EV Gets 30 kwh Battery, Range Boost. kia-world.net. 14 March 2017 . 25 March 2017.
  17. Web site: KIA Soul EV vs. Nissan LEAF: An Owner's Comparison. Trish. 2016-01-30. Driving Solar. en-US. 2019-02-16.
  18. Web site: 2020 Kia Soul EV gets 243-mile EPA range rating. Dzikiy. Phil. 2019-02-14. Electrek. en-US. 2019-02-15.
  19. Web site: Kia unveils 2020 Soul EV with 201HP, 64kWh, 200+ mile battery and 100kW CCS charging. Lambert. Fred. 2018-11-29. Electrek. en-US. 2019-02-15.
  20. Web site: Kia Soul EV specifications & Features - Kia UK. Kia UK. en-UK. 2021-10-19.
  21. Web site: Kia Soul EV introduced as 2019 Kia e-Soul in Europe with 280-mile WLTP range. Phil. Dzikiy. Electrek. 2019-02-26 . 2019-08-03.
  22. Web site: Kia Soul EV won't come to the U.S., confirmed and explained. Autoblog.
  23. Web site: Kia Build & Price | Kia Canada.
  24. Web site: Production of Kia Soul EV to Begin in April – Sales to Follow Immediately in South Korea. Eric Loveday. InsideEVs. 11 March 2014. 11 March 2014.
  25. Web site: South Korea May 2014 . Jose Pontes. EVSales.com. 28 June 2014. 29 June 2014.
  26. News: Sales of EVs, hybrid cars jump 27.3 pct on-year in 2014: report . Yonhap News Agency. Global Post. 29 June 2014. 29 June 2014.
  27. Web site: Mike Szostech. Kia Soul EV production for export begins. My Electric Car Forums. 12 June 2014.
  28. News: Beene . Ryan . Kia Soul EV to launch in 3rd quarter . Automotive News. 6 February 2014 . 6 February 2014 .
  29. Web site: October 2014 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Report Card . Jay Cole. InsideEVs.com. 2014-11-03. 2014-11-07.
  30. Web site: Kia Soul EV Availability. 25 March 2015. 10 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230510152814/https://www.mykiasoulev.com/kia-soul-ev-availability/. dead.
  31. Web site: Kia Soul EV Life - Forum discussions, news, and information for Kia's all-electric vehicle . 2015-08-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151204021523/http://kiasoulevlife.com/ . 2015-12-04 .
  32. News: Kia Soul EV priced at $33,700*, leases start at $249/month. Sebastian Blanco. Autoblog Green. 2014-09-11. 2014-09-12.
  33. Web site: Mike Szostech. Kia Soul EV Availability. My Kia Soul EV. My Electric Car Forums. 19 November 2014. 10 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230510152814/https://www.mykiasoulev.com/kia-soul-ev-availability/. dead.
  34. httpWeb site: 2016 Kia Soul EV Overview. Kia Media. Kia Motors.
  35. News: Global sales of Soul EV top 5,000 units. Yonhap. Yonhap News. 2015-10-08. 2015-10-08.
  36. Global sales of Soul EV top 10,000 units . . Seoul . 2016-03-01. 2016-03-03. The Soul EV posted combined global sales of 10,210 units through January 2016, with the overseas market taking up 8,630 units.
  37. Web site: Germany December 2014. Jose Pontes. EVSales.com. 2015-01-19. 2015-10-08. A total of 14 Soul EVs were sold in Germany in 2014.
  38. Web site: Germany December 2015 . Jose . Pontes . EVSales.com. 2016-01-25. 2016-03-03. A total of 3,839 Soul EVs were sold in Germany in 2015.
  39. Web site: CO2-utslippet i desember 2014. no. CO2 emissions in December 2014. Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). OFV. January 2015. 2016-03-03. 2015-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123231448/http://www.ofvas.no/co2-utslippet-i-desember/category649.html. dead. See graph: "Gjennomsnittlig CO2-utslipp for registrerte ney personbiler per modell 2015, til og med desember." A total of 617 Kia Soul EVs were registered in Norway in 2014.
  40. Web site: CO2-utslippet i desember . no . CO2 emissions in December . Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) . OFV . January 2016 . 2016-03-03 . 2018-07-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180711204645/http://www.ofvas.no/co2-utslippet-i-desember/category678.html . dead . See graph: "Gjennomsnittlig CO2-utslipp for registrerte ney personbiler per modell 2015, til og med desember." A total of 1,020 Kia Soul EVs were registered in Norway in 2015.
  41. News: Bilsalget i 2015: Tidenes bronseplass . no . Car sales in 2015: The bronze age . Knut . Moberg . Dinside.com . 2016-01-16 . 2016-03-05. See table: "Topp 5 bruktimport i 2015"
  42. News: Dubiose Zulassungs-Strategie:Dieser Ladenhüter trickst Kias Umweltbilanz schön . de. Dubious approval strategy: This dealer is tricking beautifully Kia's environmental balance . Nils-Viktor Sorge and Wilfried Eckl-Dorna . . 2015-11-26. 2016-03-03.
  43. As of December 8, 2020
  44. Web site: The surprising reason Americans Have to Wait Until 2021 for the Kia Soul EV. 11 April 2020.
  45. Web site: Kia Soul European sales figures. 29 January 2014.
  46. Web site: Kia Previews SEMA Lineup with Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV . Mihalascu, Dan . Carscoops.com . 2014-10-17 . 2014-10-23.
  47. Web site: Kia hamsters return for comical Soul EV commercial [video] ]. Clinton . Deacon . . 2014-08-21 . 2019-08-08.