Based on the Kia Soul, the Kia Soul EV is an all-electric subcompact crossover SUV made by Kia. It is also referred to as the Kia e-Soul. The 2020 Kia Soul EV’s official range, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is 243 miles (391 km). [1]
In May 2014, South Korea started receiving deliveries of the first generation.
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[3] Throughout July 2014, sales in Europe started.
Sales began in the United States in October 2014;[5] at first, it was only offered in California, Oregon, and a number of Eastern states with the most developed EV infrastructure and markets, such as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.
[4] In January 2016, global sales passed the 10,000 unit barrier, with 6,770 units sold in Europe being the largest market.
[6] As of December 2015, Germany had sold 3,853 units, making it the largest European market.
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For the 2020 model year, a second generation was released in 2019 and went on sale in Canada and Europe. For the US market, a postponement till 2021 was made. [9][10]
In This Article...
On a Kia Soul, what does EV stand for?
History. In 2013, Kia started putting electric Soul vehicle prototypes through testing. Kia confirmed in November 2013 that the Soul EV would be produced and available on sale in 2014. The 2014 Chicago Auto Show is where the car was debuted. The second-generation Kia Soul served as the foundation for the first-generation Soul EV.
How far can a Kia Soul EV travel before needing a charge?
After falling behind the competition with the first-generation model, the Kia Soul EV has quickly caught up as one of the best mass-market EVs available. The Kia is back at the top of the league table for EVs thanks to updated style, gear, connected car technologies, and a significantly bigger battery.
The Kia Soul EV can travel 280 miles on a single charge thanks to a 64 kWh battery. Despite having a small crossover footprint, its boxy design supports its practical range with a roomy interior.
How come Kia stopped producing the Soul EV?
As Autoblog noted, initially, Kia put off shipping the second-generation Soul EV to the United States because of supply concerns. For many individuals, 2020 wasn’t a wonderful year, and for Kia, there weren’t enough batteries to go around. As a result, Kia had to make a decision, and they finally decided to push back the Soul EV until 2021.
However, that delay quickly turned into the Soul EV’s complete cancellation, at least for America. Kia chose to discontinue producing any Soul EV models for the American market, although it will still be offered in other areas, according to Autoblog. The fundamental cause of the Soul EV’s U.S. discontinuation was straightforward, and it’s actually connected to the original reason the second generation was delayed.
The Niro EV car received priority for batteries because Kia believed it to be superior. The Niro EV has no competition inside the Kia brand now that the Soul EV has been discontinued in the United States, thus the business can concentrate on battling other automakers.
How is a Kia Soul EV recharged at home?
The Kia Soul EV is as much fun to look at as it is to drive because to its distinctive and whimsical appearance that matches that of its gasoline-powered brethren. The first generation had a respectable range, but the 2019 model pushes things even further.
Charging time for a Kia Soul EV
The time it should take to charge your Soul EV from empty to full is shown in the table below. Since charging tends to slow down outside of this range to protect the battery, we only provide the time to charge for rapid charging from 20 to 80 percent.
Connector type and charging rates
With a Type 2 plug, you may charge your Kia Soul EV at home, at work, or at a public charging station. Additionally, a CCS port is present for quick charging.
Where you can charge a Kia Soul EV
You can conveniently charge your Kia Soul EV at home, plug it in when you get to work, or top it off while you’re out and about at places like supermarkets and public parking lots (usually for free!).
No longer available
This electric car is no longer being manufactured and cannot be purchased brand new. From February 2020 to September 2021, the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh was offered. Financial information such as price, lease, and company car tax were applicable to the last year that the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh was on sale.
There is a new version of the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh (2020) available (2021).
Pricing
The recommended retail price (RRP) and on-the-road price (OTR) for the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh were 36,895 and 37,545, respectively. The OTR Price includes delivery, VAT, the first year of VED, the initial registration charge for the vehicle, and number plates.
Drivetrain and Performance
A fully electric vehicle is the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh (BEV). The Kia Soul EV 64 kWh’s maximum output is 150 kW. (201 hp). The most torque possible is 291 lb-ft. The front-wheel-drive Kia Soul EV 64 kWh accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds. It can go as fast as 104 mph.
Battery and Charging
The Kia Soul EV 64 kWh battery is projected to have a total capacity of 67.5 kWh. 64 kWh of the capacity are usable. A fully charged battery has a range of roughly 225 kilometers. The actual driving range will be determined by a number of variables, such as the environment, the topography, the use of climate control, and driving habits.
For instance, maintaining high speeds in a chilly environment might result in a range of about 160 miles. But while traveling at low speeds in comfortable conditions, the range can reach about 340 miles.
The on-board charger has a maximum output of 7.2 kW and charges via a Type 2 connector. This charges a fully exhausted battery back to full in roughly 10 hours 30 minutes. The typical wall plug will take about 32 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge the car.
A CCS connector enables rapid charging. 77 kW is the greatest quick charging power. At this power, the battery cannot be charged continuously. The average charge power during a rapid charging session will be in the range of 64 kW. This takes about 45 minutes to fully charge the battery from 10% to 80%. This kind of quick charge will increase range by around 155 miles.
Energy Consumption
The Kia Soul EV 64 kWh uses roughly 284 Wh per mile of energy when traveling on highways and in cities together. When compared to a regular petrol car, this energy use is equivalent to 142 mpg of fuel consumption.
The actual energy use will vary on a number of variables, including the climate, the topography, if climate control systems are used, and driving habits. For instance, maintaining high speeds in cold conditions may require about 400 Wh of energy each mile. However, efficiency will rise to roughly 188 Wh per mile when traveling at modest speeds in comfortable conditions.
CO2 Emission
Driving the Kia Soul EV 64 kWh produces no carbon dioxide. Only the vehicle’s own direct emissions are included in this. The usage of fossil fuels may have (partially) produced the energy required to charge the battery. CO2 emissions from internal combustion engines are a constant while driving. Additionally, fossil fuel production and transportation result in CO2 emissions.
What will the price of the 2020 Kia Soul EV be?
The base EX model level of the 2019 Kia Niro EV crossover utility vehicle will be available for purchase for $44,995, before freight and delivery fees. The price of the Niro EV SX Touring is $53,995.
The base MSRP for the Premium model of the 2020 Kia Soul EV, which is categorized as a car, is $42,595 before freight and delivery fees, while the Soul EV Limited will start at $51,595.
In all four instances, Canadian customers will receive a federal rebate of up to $5,000, a second reimbursement of up to $8,000 for residents of Quebec, and a before-tax rebate of up to $5,000 for residents of British Columbia.
The Kia Niro EV and Kia Soul EV are currently for sale. But it doesn’t matter because the federal rebate will only be available for cars bought or leased as of May 1, 2019.
How long do the batteries in a Kia Soul EV last?
The normal battery life of a 2020 Kia Soul is 3 to 5 years, although actual battery life might vary greatly depending on driving behavior, weather, and battery type. Even yet, a battery’s performance may not be at its peak even if it isn’t fully dead.
How far can a 2021 Kia Soul EV travel?
According to reports, the Kia Soul EV, one of the most eagerly awaited new electric vehicles, has supposedly been dropped off the US launch schedule. The 2020 Soul EV had already been delayed from its initial introduction date for the US market when it was first announced in late 2018 along with the third-generation Soul update. It feels like worse news was just around the corner after that.
The new Soul EV was highly anticipated for a lot of valid reasons. Despite having a limited range, the original automobile had a good reputation for being reasonably priced, useful, and enjoyable. Kia promised a significant increase in range with the 2020 update: 243 miles with the 64 kWh battery, per the EPA.
At this point, it appears that we won’t be putting that claim to the test on US roads. Roadshow is informed by insiders at Kia that the Soul EV’s launch in America has been postponed once more.
Initially, according to Kia, the plan was to import the vehicle into the US in 2019. But it was postponed to 2020 in the middle of the year. Kia Motors America quickly postponed it once more, to 2021.
Given the popularity of the Soul EV in other countries at the time, Kia attributed the problem on a shortage of parts, mainly batteries and electric motors. The insider claims that has continued to be the case, and when combined with the EV version’s more intricate and expensive rear suspension, Kia has reportedly determined it is simply not worth the trouble.
Instead, it will concentrate on the Niro EV, whose existence already rendered the Soul EV somewhat superfluous. It has the same core battery and motor design as its Soul EV cousin and is already available for purchase in the US starting at $39,090 before incentives. Its EPA range rating is 239 miles.
According to Kia USA’s official position, there are “no pending plans” for a Soul EV debut in America to occur before 2021.
While the Soul EV’s exclusion from the US electric car lineup appears regrettableespecially given that its gas-powered sibling is still a formidable contenderit was probably a smart move on Kia’s part in the long run. A single tiny electric car simplifies messaging and reduces competition among the line-EVs. up’s With partner Hyundai, the company is looking to new EV platforms that might support future models including a brand-new electric crossover.
Everything Kia Niro Drivers Need to Know About Charging an EV
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.
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).
What is the cost of charging a Kia Soul EV?
According to Fuel Economy, a government website The annual power bill for the 2019 Kia Soul EV is $600. The 2019 Kia Soul EV has a 31 kWh battery, which is its kilowatt-hour capacity. The 2019 Kia Soul EV costs around $3.32 to completely charge; this figure is based on Rochester, NY’s average household electric rate of 10.73/kWh.