http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1269598-2015-kia-soul-ev-charging-up-the-hamsters/ 2015 Kia Soul EV: Charging Up the Hamsters By Jim Meachen, MyCarData and Ted Biederman | March 2, 2015
[image http://img.theepochtimes.com/n3/eet-content/uploads/2015/03/02/Kia-Soul_EV_2015_1600x1200-676x450.jpg 2015 Kia Soul EV (Courtesy of NetCarShow.com) ] Kia picked the perfect vehicle for its first electric car effort and surely the hamsters are dancing in the streets charged up by a jolt of electricity. The second-generation Kia Soul was introduced for the 2014 model year loaded with style and character and it’s now the company’s second-best seller. So it seems a no-brainer to turn the hip urban crossover into the company’s first all-electric zero-emissions vehicle. It’s very fetching. The Soul EV promises a 93-mile range, bested only by the considerably more expensive luxury Tesla Model S. And the Soul’s 360-volt lithium-ion polymer battery pack charges relatively quickly, about five hours when plugged to a 220-volt outlet. We were saddled with just a standard 120-volt charger, which according to Kia will pump up a depleted battery in 24 hours. Two charging sessions took only about 15 hours on both occasions. We charged a second EV with the 120 for about 20 hours to max the battery. If in a rush the Kia can gain an 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes using a fast charging port. What didn’t impress us was the range that fell far short of the advertised 93 miles. We were left with a 79-mile range after the first charge and a 77-mile range after the second. The second EV proved better, giving us a 91-mile range. But that was basically our only gripe and something that could probably be mitigated with the proper at-home charging station. We were pleased with the performance of the car from its 109-horsepower electric motor, which produces 210 lb-ft of instantaneous torque. We soundlessly moved through city traffic getting up to stoplight-to-stoplight speed in a brisk fashion. We were astounded at how quiet the Soul EV performed under acceleration with virtually no motor whirring, just the low-level noise of low-resistance tires on pavement. For the benefit of pedestrian safety, the Soul EV is equipped with a Pedestrian Warning System that emits an auditory alert at speeds below 12 mph and whenever the car is in reverse. We anticipated trouble gaining highway speed from the on-ramp and we worried about difficulty merging into 65 mph traffic. Our fears proved unfounded as we pushed the pedal to the medal and the Soul responded with pleasing performance. We found that the car handled extremely well. It was well balanced and Kia engineers did a nice job in retuning the suspension to handle the 400 lb. of extra weight it gained with its sizable battery, regenerative brakes, and stiffer (heavier) low-resistance tires. What’s more, because of the retuning, the Soul EV’s center of gravity is lower making it hug the pavement even more. On the outside the Soul EV sports a more aerodynamically clean exterior design with its grille replaced by a charging port, new headlights and bumpers, and flat-faced wheels. And the Soul EV offers three distinctive dual-color schemes. Inside, the Soul EV features a unique instrument cluster with white interior trim, using a custom version of Kia’s UVO infotainment system. This revised version of UVO does everything from show the electric car’s maximum range on top of a digital map to displaying exactly how much electricity things such as the headlights, windshield wipers, and turn signals are using. The Soul’s boxy design results in excellent head room for both rows of passengers while providing a good field of vision in all directions. Cargo space has been reduced from 24.2 cu. ft. without the under tray in the standard Soul to 18.8 cu. ft. in the EV to allow for battery storage. Likewise, with the seats folded the standard Soul has a useable 61.3 cu. ft., the EV just 49.5 cu. ft. The enlarged tailgate is defined by black glass that morphs into a gloss black trim that runs around the back and surrounds the large vertical taillights. It’s very fetching. The Soul EV comes in two trim configurations: base and Soul+, starting at $34,500 including destination charge. Standard Soul EV amenities include navigation with 8-inch screen, a 6.6 kw on-board charger, a DC fast charge port, rear camera display, Bluetooth hands-free operation, power windows, power driver’s seat, cruise control, and an exclusive HVAC system designed to extend driving range by minimizing energy draw. The Soul EV is currently available in selected markets with limited availability. [© theepochtimes.com] http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1495477/kia-soul-ev-wins-motoring-tv-2015-best-electric-car Kia Soul EV wins Motoring TV 2015 'Best Electric Car' March 2, 2015 KIA Canada Kia Soul EV claims Motoring TV 2013 'Best Electric Car' Soul EV wins second Canadian award to date MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Kia's first all-electric vehicle launched in Canada has been awarded Motoring TV's 2015 'Best Electric Car'. The 2015 Soul EV secured this win by finishing ahead of challengers like the Nissan Leaf and the Smart Fortwo Electric DriveElectric respectively. "Receiving this prestigious award from such a distinguished group of automotive journalists at Motoring TV reaffirms how well this vehicle has been received by Canadians" said Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kia Canada Inc. "Class leading range and complete utility without compromise similar to its gasoline sibling is an advantage that the Soul EV has to offer to Canadians in an urban environment." "The Kia Soul EV redefines what is to be expected of the next-gen electric car. It has more than acceptable range and does not sacrifice flexibility to be green" said Graeme Fletcher, "Unlike so many electric cars the Soul EV's range is real and not something based on theory. I drove a Soul EV for 162 kilometres and it still had 25% left in the battery at the end of the drive." This is the second Canadian award that the Soul EV has won since its launch late last year. In December, Kia Canada was presented an Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Car of the Year category award winner of the "Best New City Car" award by AJAC. This award from Motoring TV marks the 9th award that Kia has received over the last five years to include back to back wins with Motoring Car of the Year in 2011 and 2012 with the Kia Sportage SUV and the Kia Optima mid-size sedan winning respectively. Kia Canada Inc. (www.kia.ca – www.facebook.com/kiacanada) a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) which was founded in 1999 and sells and services high quality, class leading vehicles like the Soul, Forte, Optima and Sorento through a network of 188 dealers nationwide. Kia Canada Inc. employs 159 people in its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters and four regional offices across Canada, with an all-new state-of-the-art facility in Montreal. Kia's brand slogan "The Power to Surprise" represents the company's global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting & inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations. [© newswire.ca] http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097078_kia-soul-ev-a-big-hit-in-ca-sales-to-expand-sooner-than-planned Kia Soul EV A Big Hit In CA; Sales To Expand Sooner Than Planned By Stephen Edelstein Mar 4, 2015 [video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAx71ardj5c 2015 Kia Soul EV Review GreenCarReports Dec 5, 2014 The Hamsters are back, and they’re performing a science experiment that resulted in this: the 2015 Kia Soul EV. It’s one of the newest electric cars on the market, but what’s it like to use? images http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2015-kia-soul-ev_100489671_l.jpg 2015 Kia Soul EV First Drive - Portland - November 2014 http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2015-kia-soul-ev_100489673_l.jpg ] Just over a year ago, the 2015 Kia Soul EV was introduced at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show as the Korean brand's first U.S.-market electric car. At the time, Kia said it would launch the Soul EV in California, but would eventually expand sales of the battery-electric tall wagon to four more states. With a rated range of 93 miles, plus more interior volume and cargo space, the Soul EV has a number of features that set it apart from other compact five-door electric vehicles on the market. Now, thanks to robust demand in the Golden State, that expansion will reportedly occur sooner than originally planned. With the Soul EV a certified hit with California customers, Kia will accelerate roll out plans--if it can build enough cars to meet demand, product manager Steve Kosowski told Charged EVs. The company wants to ensure that it will still have enough inventory available for California dealers already selling the car. California will likely continue to be the biggest market for the electric Soul, as it is for plug-in cars nationwide, with roughly 40 percent of all battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the country on its roads. The Kia Soul EV is currently sold at 17 dealers in California, and Kia had previously discussed expanding sales to New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Maryland. However, that may not necessarily be the plan going forward. The carmaker is "changing things around a bit," with regard to Soul EV expansion plans, Kia American vice president of product planning Orth Hedrick said in a recent interview with Autoblog Green. He said customer interest in the Soul EV was significantly greater than Kia had originally anticipated, saying officials were "kind of shocked" by how well it was received. As well as the U.S., Kia currently sells the Soul EV in its home market of Korea, where the car is also built. European sales are also planned at some point in the future. An announcement regarding the new Soul EV distribution plan is expected relatively soon, perhaps during the 2015 New York Auto Show next month. 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