When compared to some other high-profile model releases, the Kia Niro was not the most anticipated electric car introduction, but both consumers and critics have praised it for its impressive range and stylish functionality. The Hyundai Kona EV and the Niro electric vehicle share the same platform, however the Niro has a longer wheelbase. The Niro is offered as a plug-in hybrid with an all-electric range of 26 miles in addition to a completely electric car option.
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Kia Niro Charging & Range
The Niro EV has a 64.0 kWh battery and can charge to 80% in less than an hour thanks to rapid charging at a rate of 7.4 kW on a level 2 EV charger and up to 7.7 kW on a DC fast charger. The Niro EV has a 239-mile estimated range. The Niro can charge from zero to full capacity with the supplied level 1 charger in about 60 hours. With the use of a more potent level 2 EV charging station, such as the JuiceBox 32 or 40, the charging time is significantly decreased. The Niro can be fully charged in around 9 hours using a level 2 charger.
For those who wish to drive more sustainably but need the added range provided by a gas engine, the Kia Niro PHEV is a suitable choice. The completely electric Niro and the plug-in hybrid Niro can both be charged at the same station. The 26-mile range can be fully recharged in about six hours using a level 1 charger. The Kia Niro PHEV can be fully charged using a level 2 charger in 2.5 hours, allowing drivers to charge overnight at home or throughout the day at work and still have enough juice to get to their destination using only battery power.
Level 3 DC fast charging: CCS
The Kia Niro EV features DC fast charging capability and can recharge up to 80% of its battery in around 60 minutes at a rate of up to 77 kW. For level 3 DC rapid charging, the Niro utilizes the SAE Combined Charging Connector (CCS).
Parallel Hybrid System
The advanced Full Parallel Hybrid System in the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid is largely responsible for the vehicle’s ground-breaking economy and dynamic performance. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a 26-mile all-electric range rating** along with up to 46 combined MPG** by combining a hybrid-optimized Atkinson cycle engine with a highly efficient electric motor. The car uses regenerative braking to store kinetic energy for battery recharging. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a sporty ride not found in its rivals thanks to a highly responsive, smooth-shifting dual-clutch automatic gearbox (DCT), in contrast to other hybrids that typically provide a continuous variable transmission (CVT). Even better, it qualifies for federal and tax rebates***, as well as a High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) decal in several jurisdictions.
Hybrid Technology and Charging Capabilities
Directly in front of the driver is a Supervision Instrument Cluster with a 4.2-inch TFT LCD screen that makes it simple to see critical vehicle data like speed, fuel, and distance in a flash. It is situated between recessed gauges. Thanks to Kia’s UVO connection system, you may communicate with your Niro Plug-In Hybrid directly from your smartphone. Utilize features like Off-Peak Charge Scheduling to schedule charging during off-peak electricity hours or Find Charging Stations to locate charging stations while you’re on the go in order to maximize your savings. Before you get to your car, you’ll be able to lock and unlock doors, turn on your engine, and regulate the temperature inside with heated accessories or air conditioning.
The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers drivers a variety of charging choices. For convenient overnight charging, its high-capacity battery system recharges in less than 2.5 hours using a 240V power outlet and in less than 9 hours using a typical domestic electrical outlet. To find the closest charging station, you may even utilize the voice-command navigation system that is available and offers turn-by-turn directions.
Driver-Centric Interior
The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid has an interior that is filled with thoughtfully designed comfort and convenience features, which is the ideal companion to its attractive outward appearance. A 60/40 split folding rear seat is designed to allow you to make the most of every square inch of inside space and provide you complete freedom when setting up your cargo. You may discover your ideal seating position using the available 10-way power driver’s seat, and the Integrated Memory Seat (IMS) technology will allow you to maintain it. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has logical standard equipment like an auto-dimming rearview mirror and dual-zone air conditioning. Bright contrast stitching that is an option for leather seats offers the interior a unique touch.
The Kia Niro can it be charged while moving?
The vehicle is propelled by the power of the engine. While the car is being driven, the battery is also being charged by the engine. The engine’s power is used to charge the battery while the car is in idle mode.
Does the Kia Niro hybrid require charging?
Charge your car at night (approximately 8-10 hours). With the Niro Plug-in Hybrid, a charging cable for Level 1 Charging is included. There are numerous Level 2 (240 V) chargers at public stations, and some may even be accessible for installation at home. In less than two hours, level 2 chargers can offer a complete charge.
Does the Kia Niro self-charge?
The Kia Niro Self-Charging Crossover Hybrid is now available. With this vehicle, you will enjoy all the greatest features of a contemporary crossover: a small exterior, a roomy and elegant interior, a real hybrid engine that is very effective and offers excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions, and a highly refined and perfectly blended interior.
Can you use a Tesla charger to charge a Kia Niro?
The Supercharger network that powers all of Tesla’s electric vehicles, not its selection of electric automobiles, is the company’s most valuable asset. However, the experience is far from ideal even if other companies can now charge their EVs at Tesla superchargers. Bjorn Nyland, a well-known YouTuber, demonstrated what happens when a Kia EV6 is hooked into a Tesla supercharger.
Tesla superchargers are widely available and provide quick charging along with a seamless driving experience that is unmatched in the EV industry. The only thing you need to do if you drive a Tesla is park the car and plug it in. Like magic, the charger connects with the vehicle, and the invoicing is handled immediately.
For all other EV brands, however, who rely on external charging networks, the entire process is a disaster. You must set up an account and a billing option, install an app (or several), and many times customers have claimed that the charger is difficult to persuade to charge the vehicle. It makes sense that every EV automaker in the world aspires to have a charging system similar to the Tesla Supercharger. They are fortunate because Tesla just declared it will allow other brands to use its network.
The decision benefits both parties, since EV owners now have access to the best charging infrastructure in the world and Tesla now has access to their cash. They only need to download the Tesla app to their phones and follow the same steps they would for any other charging network they have access to. Therefore, it falls short of the hassle-free experience that Tesla owners enjoy, but at least it provides a second way to charge an EV.
Of course, as non-Tesla users of the network start to realize, there’s more to it than just getting access to the supercharger. To begin with, there are situations where the car will not bargain with the charger. Additionally, even when everything seems to be going well, it might not. Even while the charging process begins as predicted, YouTuber Bjorn Nyland observed that the Kia EV6 and Tesla Supercharger don’t always get along.
The EV6 has a problem with improper plug locking; as a result, anyone can unplug the plug while the owner is gone from the vehicle. Even though it might only be a glitch that gets fixed in a subsequent version, this is still a concern. We don’t know if this is an issue that only the Kia EV6 is experiencing or if it affects all non-Tesla EVs. Due to how simple it is to unhook a non-Tesla from a supercharger by simply pressing the button on the plug, failure to lock the charging plug might result in severe disagreements between drivers.
What happens if a plug-in hybrid isn’t charged?
Plug-in hybrids are a concept that some people find difficult to grasp, but one way to think of them is as a hybrid on steroids.
A non-plug-in hybrid vehicle, like a Toyota Prius, is always going to need gas, and its electric motor drive is simply there to aid out occasionally. However, a plug-in hybrid is a hybrid with a bigger battery that allows for a limited amount of all-electric driving.
In other words: A part-time EV, part-time hybrid vehicle is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The plug-in hybrid’s all-electric range, which is a function of battery capacity measured in kilowatt-hours, determines the EV component.
Although the EPA-rated electric range can range from 11 miles (for the Prius PHV from 2012 to 2015) to 53 miles (for the extended-range electric Chevy Volt from 2016 to 2017) or 72 miles (for the extended-range EV i3 REx from 2017 to 2018, respectively), those gas-free miles add up to significant fuel and environmental savings.
Numerous plug-in hybrids are currently on the market in the United States, and more are expected as automakers from all over the world have announced they would be introducing PHEVs to assist them satisfy mpg and CO2 restrictions.
The following is a list of five benefits that most American consumers might not typically consider, while it is not exhaustive.
No Electrician Needed
Contrary to popular belief, plug-in hybrids do not require the installation of special home charging infrastructure.
Unlike pure electric vehicles, which have larger batteries, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) can utilize a conventional 120-volt U.S. household outlet. Even their unique cord and charging device are included (EVSE).
Even the largest 18.4 kWh battery in the 20162017 Chevy Volt can be charged overnight at 120V. Of course, a 240volt EVSE can be utilized and performs rapid charging.
Convenience
A plug-in hybrid can run on electricity or gasoline. Yes, you do need to charge the battery as mentionedtypically at home, if not also during the day, or while you’re drivingbut if you don’t, the car will still operate in standard hybrid mode with no problems from the gas engine.
PHEVs are fantastic because drivers do not have to wait for the car to charge, as they would with a battery electric vehicle, claims proponent Mark Renburke of Drive Electric Cars New England. They are not chained to power, but they do have the freedom to use it and plan their schedules around it.
Even if this is becoming less of a problem, one does not need to carefully arrange their route around charging outlets while traveling further distances. However, it does imply that the PHEV may function every day as a pure EV and be your only vehicle when you need to travel further.
Percent Battery Usage
Even Teslas have a maximum amount of battery range they can utilize, so you always need to keep a “buffer” to get to your next charging station.
Can you use the entire 106 miles of a pure EV’s range, for example? Not unless the driver of the tow truck is your friend.
This is not the case with PHEVs, which can use all of their available energy at any moment without worrying about running out of fuel. It has been demonstrated that vehicles like the Chevy Volt actually achieve greater daily EV miles than pure EVs like the 84-mile 20132015 Nissan Leaf.
While some more affordable battery electric vehicles with a 200-mile range or more, such as the Chevy Bolt, upcoming Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model 3, may partially offset this advantage, the absence of range anxiety for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) when using the battery to its maximum capacity is still viewed favorably.
Satisfying Drive Experience
Because of their electric motors, PHEVs have good torque off the line and drive and handle like regular automobiles. Since they function essentially the same without the gas engine running, they are as silent in EV mode as pure EVs.
Some have claimed that due of how smooth the ride can become addictive, they are a gateway to EVs. They provide a more electric drive experience than a standard hybrid, which is at least true. Although hybrids may also be quite quiet, many automobile enthusiasts do not appreciate the harder acceleration provided by the gas engine.
PHEVs are further along as a bridge delivering more of the EV experience without some of the downsides, if hybrids are a “bridge technology on the path to pure electric cars.
There are advantages and disadvantages, of course, but many individuals who have actually purchased PHEVs do prefer the compromise of using electric when desired and gas when necessary.
Subsidy Eligible
Consider: Free cash! or somewhat of, depending on the situation. It’s an excellent moment to consider a PHEV because subsidies and incentives are being offered to encourage sales and launch the market, which is at least true for EVs as well.
These include the one-time tax credit offered by the federal government, ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 depending on battery capacity.
The credit increases with battery size. Additionally, states may grant incentives on a case-by-case basis.
PHEVs do tend to cost more than conventional hybrids, but if you don’t use on-site solar or other renewable energy sourceswhich is a natural fityour energy costs, the total value equation may still work out.
The Kia Niro uses what kind of plug?
The CCS charging standard, which consists of a combination AC and DC intake port, is what the Kia e-Niro makes use of. The Type 2 connector, which is used while charging at home or at public slow and fast AC ports, fits into the top portion of the inlet. When a CCS connector is used for quick DC charging, high power is transported through the lower part below the Type 2 input. Behind a flap of what would typically be a car’s grille is where the CCS inlet for the Kia e-Niro is located.
Depending on the network and type of charge unit, Kia’s e-Niro can be charged from public points slowly, quickly, or quickly. Fast charging often requires a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, and slow charging typically calls for a 3-pin-to-Type 2. Both cables are typically included with the car. The necessary CCS connector is connected to the charging unit in order to facilitate quick charging.