Geneva Motor Show 2014: Kia Soul EV offers 124 mile range

KIA revealed its first pure Electric Vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show: the KIA Soul EV with a 124 Mile range and a charge time as little as 25 minutes.

Embodying the iconic design of the recently-launched second-generation KIA Soul, the Soul EV will become the brand's first globally-sold electric vehicle when production starts in the second half of 2014.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, said: "The Soul EV will benefit from Kia's unique 7-Year, 100,000 mile warranty, making it the only electric vehicle available with such a comprehensive warranty.

"It will be a car for the head and for the heart, and the Soul EV embodies our commitment to offering European customers stylish, environmentally-responsible vehicles with an industry-leading warranty and excellent value for money."

Iconic design for a modern product

The Soul EV differs itself from the rest of the 2014 Soul range with a two-tone colour scheme with contrasting ‘floating roof', unique 16-inch alloy wheel design and LED taillights, as well as a new ‘eco electric' badge on the wing at the base of the A-pillar. The car receives unique front and rear fascias, incorporating a larger front grille and charging ports.

The Soul EV also features a new interior, with higher quality materials and a more driver-focused design. It is the very first Kia model to be fitted with the brand's new OLED (organic LED) instrument cluster, while the interior's light two-tone colour scheme gives the cabin an airy, open atmosphere. A double-injection moulded fascia further improves the high quality feel of the soft-touch dashboard.

The Soul's AVN (audio-visual navigation) system is carried over as standard in the Soul EV, with additional EV-only features for the new model, including scheduled ventilation and charging. A number of new features designed to minimise range anxiety are included as standard, providing the driver with full details on the car's energy consumption, a charging station search function and a navigation system which displays the vehicle's total driveable range.

Class-leading battery energy density

The Soul EV is powered by an 81.4 kW electric motor, producing 285 Nm of torque, and a high-capacity 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack located beneath the cabin. The motor delivers its power to the front wheels through a single speed reduction gear set, allowing the Soul EV to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in under 12 seconds, going on to a top speed of 145 kph (90 mph). Kia engineers are targeting a driving range of around 200 km (124 miles).

To maximise the efficiency and potential range of the Soul EV, regenerative braking captures and recycles the car's kinetic energy while it is coasting and braking. Users can choose between three regenerative braking modes depending on the amount of braking support and regenerative power required.

Soul EV owners can choose between two different driving modes, ‘Drive' and ‘Brake', with the latter producing the most energy recuperation from the regenerative braking system.

Each of these driving settings are also available in a special Eco-mode, which extends the Soul EV's driving range by optimising the performance and energy consumption of the HVAC system and the electric motor.

A battery heating system is also fitted to the Soul EV, designed to insulate and warm up the battery in order to minimise the adverse effects of sub-zero temperatures on battery charge.

The 6.6 kW AC on-board charger enables the Soul EV to be fully charged within five hours depending on the local electricity supply. An 80 per cent charge can be achieved in as little as 25 minutes with a 100 kW DC charger (33 minutes at 50 kW).

Overall, the Soul EV suffers minimal battery intrusion compared to competitors. The exterior dimensions of the Soul EV are identical to those of the gasoline and diesel-powered versions of the car.

Finally, the Soul EV is fitted with super-low rolling resistance tyres. Designed by Kumho and Nexen specifically for the Soul EV, the new 205/60R16 tyres - made up of a low resistance compound and tyre profile - reduce rolling resistance by 10 per cent, crucially without impacting on ride comfort, handling, NVH or braking distance.