Automotive

Kia bares its Soul EV in Chicago

Kia bares its Soul EV in Chicago
The Soul EV that debuted at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show
The Soul EV that debuted at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show
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Kia's Soul EV has two charging ports located behind a sliding door in the front grille
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Kia's Soul EV has two charging ports located behind a sliding door in the front grille
The Soul EV is Kia's first electric vehicle to be sold outside South Koorea
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The Soul EV is Kia's first electric vehicle to be sold outside South Koorea
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Headlights of the Kia Soul EV
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Headlights of the Kia Soul EV
Charging port on the Kia Soul EV
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Charging port on the Kia Soul EV
HVAC controls are made from antibacterial materials
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HVAC controls are made from antibacterial materials
The Kia Soul EV center console
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The Kia Soul EV center console
The gear selector made from antibacterial materials
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The gear selector made from antibacterial materials
The Soul EV is powered by an 81.4 kW (109 hp) electric motor
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The Soul EV is powered by an 81.4 kW (109 hp) electric motor
The Soul EV will be sold in the US from Q3 2014
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The Soul EV will be sold in the US from Q3 2014
The Soul EV that debuted at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show
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The Soul EV that debuted at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show
Kia says the Soul EV will have a range of around 80 to 100 miles (129 to 161 km)
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Kia says the Soul EV will have a range of around 80 to 100 miles (129 to 161 km)
The Kia Soul EV packs a 360 V 96-cell lithium-ion polymer battery
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The Kia Soul EV packs a 360 V 96-cell lithium-ion polymer battery
The Kia Soul EV
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The Kia Soul EV
The Kia Soul EV
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The Kia Soul EV
Kia Soul EV interior
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Kia Soul EV interior
Kia Soul EV front angle view
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Kia Soul EV front angle view
View gallery - 17 images

After announcing late last year that it planned to electrify its Soul and unleash it on the global market, Kia has debuted the vehicle at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. When it hits US showrooms from Q3 2014 and Europe and the UK after that, the Soul EV will be Kia's first electric vehicle to be sold outside the Korean automaker's home country.

The Soul EV packs a 360 V 96-cell lithium-ion polymer battery that powers an 81.4 kW (109 hp) electric motor generating 210 lb-ft (285 Nm) of torque. Power is delivered to the front wheels via a single-speed, constant-ratio gear reduction unit, with Kia claiming the 27 kWh, air-cooled battery should give the vehicle a range of around 80 to 100 miles (129 to 161 km) under real-world driving conditions, helped by a regenerative braking system that can capture up to 12 percent of the car's kinetic energy.

The battery can be charged via a standard 120 V outlet or a conventional 240 V EV charger, with two charging ports coming as standard. There's a SAE J1772 port for Level 1 and Level 2 AC, and a CHAdeMo DC fast-charging port (480 V), both of which are located behind a sliding door in the front grille. A standard 120 V outlet will need around 24 hours to charge a fully depleted battery, while a 240 V outlet will get the job done in under five. A 50-kW output charger can also get the battery to 80 percent capacity in around half an hour.

Kia's Soul EV has two charging ports located behind a sliding door in the front grille
Kia's Soul EV has two charging ports located behind a sliding door in the front grille

The battery is located under the floor, which is designed to provide extra stability by lowering the vehicle's center of gravity and helps keep the reduction in cabin space to a loss of 3.1 inches (8 cm) of legroom in the rear and 5.1 cu.-ft (144 L) less rear cargo space in comparison to the non-EV Soul. Additional cross bracing beneath the battery pack also improves torsional rigidity by 5.9 percent over the non-EV Soul.

The carmaker says that use of multi-layer magnets in the liquid-cooled AC synchronous permanent magnet motor not only improve efficiency, but also reduce the "whine" that most other electric vehicles generate. Kia has also used special soundproofing materials to help ensure a quiet ride, with a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) that sounds an alert for pedestrians when the vehicle is traveling at under 12 mph (19 km/h) or in reverse.

Kia has also paid particular attention to the use of eco-friendly materials, with bio-based plastics derived from cellulose and sugar cane found in everything from the door panels and headliner, to the seat trim, roof pillars and carpeting, while BTX-free paint adorns the audio system surround, vent bezel and the floor console. There are even antibacterial materials used on the gear selector, audio and HVAC controls, instrument panel switchgear and the floor-mounted center console.

The Kia Soul EV center console
The Kia Soul EV center console

In addition to an 8-inch capacitive touch-navigation screen that provides a home for downloadable apps and Kia's UVO EV Services that is introduced for the first time on the Soul EV, there's a 3.5-inch OLED display that provides energy flow, charging time, ECO driving level and energy economy of the vehicle. These are in addition to other standard features, including navigation, Rear Camera Display, Bluetooth hands free operation, power windows, power driver’s seat, cruise control, 6.6 kW on-board charger and an exclusive HVAC system designed to extend driving range by minimizing energy draw.

Kia will initially sell the Soul EV in regions of the US with the best EV infrastructure, including California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland, with plans to extend availability as infrastructure and demand grows. Sales in Europe and the UK will follow the US release, with pricing set be announced closer to the vehicle's launch.

Source: Kia

View gallery - 17 images
4 comments
4 comments
Nairda
Ah finally. The Soul was always an interesting beast. In particular the 1.6 Turbo diesel.
One gripe for this E variant is that it did not come with an option for a 200-300cc generator unit in serial hybrid through a CVT to top up the batteries and provide some boost. Its not a matter of range anxiety but rather practicality.
BigGoofyGuy
I think this is really nice. It is also nice that the design is good too.
I think a fuel cell (much progress has been made in this field) it could help with range and extra power when needed.
Milton
"with a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS)"
I sure hope it doesn't sound like an engine.... and instead like a subtle whine or an AC motor.
Last thing EV drivers want is to sound like a gasser.
Duh.
BigGoofyGuy
Milton, I believe that is so people can hear that it is coming. With electric vehicles being so quiet, people are hurt since they don't hear them coming. In Europe, they are having electric vehicles produce sounds. It would be cool if one could chose ones own sound the way one can chose a ring tone for ones cell phone.