'The front grill has 2 charging ports behind a trick door'
http://www.wtop.com/1397/3763015/Car-Report-Kia-Soul-is-electric-for-2015 Car Report: Kia Soul is electric for 2015 12/15/2014 By Mike Parris [image http://www.wtop.com/emedia/wtop/37/3712/371209.JPG?filter=wtop_article If you're looking for an electric vehicle, the 2015 Kia Soul EV is an attractive option. (WTOP/Mike Parris) http://www.wtop.com/emedia/wtop/37/3712/371212.jpg (console) http://www.wtop.com/?nid=1490&sid=3763015#idx2 Gallery ] WASHINGTON -- I tested the redesigned 2014 Kia Soul about a year ago and came away impressed with the improvements they'd made over the previous generation. For the 2015 model year, Kia decided it was time for its first all-electric car: the Kia Soul EV. Kia designed the new generation of Soul with an electric version in mind so you don't sacrifice much space to the battery packs. The new "Hamster" car, as my daughter exulted when she saw it in the driveway, still has that look -- maybe even more so with the electric transformation. The front end looks different, though, compared with the normal gas engine models. The front grill is replaced with the two charging ports behind a trick front door, and the wheels are smaller and different. But other than that, the Soul EV looks like the previous Soul. The Kia Soul EV tries its best to be more normal without all the compromise in most all-electric cars -- with a price tag that is more attainable than some others, too. It's about $8,000 more than the fully loaded, top-of-the-line gas-powered Soul, starting at around $36,000 before any tax credits you might qualify for. With tax credits up to $7,500 available, it's possible that your final price might not be far from the gas version. The Soul EV comes loaded with heated and ventilated leather seats, but the seat backs aren't the most comfortable. The rear seats are heated, except for the middle. There is also navigation with an EV charging station locator, which makes juicing up your ride much easier then fiddling with an app on a phone when you need to hit a charger. It also has electric-powered A/C and a heat-pump HVAC system, so there's no waiting for the car to warm up for heat. It's very quick, but you do sacrifice some range for comfort. The Kia Soul is better than some with a 93-mile range. On a warm day, I saw a range of 99 miles, but a decent amount of traffic and braking helped to extend it. I did enjoy driving the Soul EV more than the gas model, and more than the other car I was testing that week. City driving is where this Kia shines. It's nimble, has good pickup and is easy to park with front and rear sensors and a rear camera. But there is a little wind noise on the highway. It's also there with gas version but this is so quiet you notice more. The regenerative brakes feel like normal brakes and are just a bit touchy at low parking speeds -- but better than some others. We'll have to wait a little longer to get them in the D.C. area; it's available only in California until the second quarter of 2015, when D.C.-area dealers get their hands on it. That being said, if you're looking for an electric vehicle, the 2015 Kia Soul EV is an attractive option. It's now a funky and clean-running machine that is fun to drive and comes with all the right toys. [© 2014 WTOP] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html#nabble+template%2FNamlServlet.jtp%3Fmacro%3Dsearch_page%26node%3D413529%26query%3DEVLN%2Bbrucedp2%26days%3D0%26sort%3Ddate http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/141211/finnish-company-develops-more-energy-efficient-winter-tyre Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 energy-efficient winter tyre designed4 i3 EV http://customstoday.com.pk/all-electric-suv-tesla-model-x-does-60mph-in-less-than-5sec-6/ All-electric SUV Tesla Model X does 60mph in less than 5sec http://www.themalaymailonline.com/drive/article/growing-pains-of-the-bmws-i3-electric-hatchback BMW’s ChargeNow EVSE network partners with other EU EVSE providers + EVLN: evwest.com Web-Show> 1978 308 GTS Ferrari EV project (videos) {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Kia-Soul-is-electric-for-2015-review-tp4673085.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
