While its sister brand Hyundai invests in hydrogen fuel cell
technology, Kia is entering the battery-powered electric vehicle market with
the new Soul EV. The Korean automaker plans to sell some 5,000 units of its
first electric vehicle around the world. While it's not saying exactly what
proportion it hopes to sell in (or how many it's allocating to) any individual
market, the latest reports indicate that it expects the United States to be its
biggest market.
Part of that may come down to the growing popularity of
electric vehicles in America, but also to the substantial incentives offered by
federal and local government agencies towards buying an EV. Though the Soul EV
retails for a reported 42.5 million won in South Korea – equivalent to less
than $41,500 at today's rates, of which the battery alone accounts for about 40
percent – incentives will mean that the actual cost to a buyer in the US will
be about half that, although Kia hasn't announced official pricing yet.
The latest electric vehicle on the market is based on the
existing Kia Soul hatchback, a vehicle chosen due to its packaging vis-à-vis
more conventionally shaped vehicles. The 27 kWh lithium ion battery pack adds
about 330 pounds to the vehicle's curb weight, resulting in a 0-62 time of 11.2
seconds and a 92-mile range.
Courtesy: Autoblog
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