http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/seat-time/2015/mar/07/soul-ev-kias-fresh-new-face/ Soul EV: Kia's fresh new face MARCH 7, 2015 Don Adair
[images http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_ext_1_t737.jpg The Soul’s raffish vibe is well-suited for the iconoclasts who are the EV tribe. Moreover, its blocky, upright stance seems custom-made to accommodate a boxy battery pack, without disrupting aesthetics, inconveniencing occupants or reducing cargo space. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_ext_2_t737.jpg The all-new 2015 Soul EV ($34,000 before incentives and rebates) is a five-passenger hatchback. Its EPA-estimated range of 93 miles tops all EVs not named Tesla. Operating under ideal conditions (temperature, barometric pressure, elevation gain, etc), independent testers have squeezed 104 miles out of a single charge. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_ext_3_t737.jpg The Soul EV’s batteries are located low in the body, under the rear seats. This produces a low center of gravity, resulting in minimal body lean and a stable, planted feel at speed. The EV runs the 0-60 mph sprint in the mid-9-second range (about average for EVs not named Tesla), though the immediate, off-the-line rush makes it feel quicker. Freeway merging is quick and painless. Top speed is electronically limited to 90 mph. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_int_1_t737.jpg Its high roofline and tall windows give the Soul an open and airy feel. The EV’s gestalt is modern-verging-on-techie and the EV’s Apple-influenced user interface complements the Soul’s circle-based design theme. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_int_2_t737.jpg Like all EVs, the Soul accelerates like a scalded rabbit — for the first hundred feet or so. That’s because its 81 kW electric motor is a torque-machine, producing a neck-whipping 210 lb-ft of torque. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_int_3_t737.jpg The EV easily handled my daily needs, including the 16-mile roundtrip to town. Over the course of a week, the 27 kWh lithium-ion battery pack rarely dipped below 50 percent charge, with a nightly recharge from a 120-volt household outlet. (Kia) http://media.spokesman.com/photos/2015/03/07/soul_ev_port_t737.jpg Restoring a charge from a near-depleted state using a 120v outlet is a 24-hour process. A 240v outlet cuts the required time to five hours. The Soul is also fitted with a CHAdeMo DC fast-charging port (480v) and can be charged to 80 percent in 33 minutes using a 50-Kw ] Kia’s Soul is an obvious candidate for electrification. So obvious Kia designed its funky hatchback with that conversion in mind. The Soul’s raffish vibe is well-suited for the iconoclasts who are the EV tribe. Moreover, its blocky, upright stance seems custom-made to accommodate a boxy battery pack, without disrupting aesthetics, inconveniencing occupants or reducing cargo space. Its high roofline and tall windows give the Soul an open and airy feel. The EV’s gestalt is modern-verging-on-techie and the EV’s Apple-influenced user interface complements the Soul’s circle-based design theme. The all-new 2015 Soul EV ($34,000 before incentives and rebates) is a five-passenger hatchback. Its EPA-estimated range of 93 miles tops all EVs not named Tesla. Operating under ideal conditions (temperature, barometric pressure, elevation gain, etc), independent testers have squeezed 104 miles out of a single charge. The EV easily handled my daily needs, including the 16-mile roundtrip to town. Over the course of a week, the 27 kWh lithium-ion battery pack rarely dipped below 50 percent charge, with a nightly recharge from a 120-volt household outlet. Before spending an afternoon schlepping groceries around the North Side on a volunteer gig, I intentionally ran down the battery to less than half-full. When the state of charge approaches 25 percent, the Soul begins urging a visit to a nearby charging station, and offers available options. When I arrived home, in a state of moderate, self-induced range anxiety, 7 miles showed on the range indicator. Restoring a charge from a near-depleted state using a 120v outlet is a 24-hour process. A 240v outlet cuts the required time to five hours. The Soul is also fitted with a CHAdeMo DC fast-charging port (480v) and can be charged to 80 percent in 33 minutes using a 50-Kw fast-charger. The Soul EV’s batteries are located low in the body, under the rear seats. This produces a low center of gravity, resulting in minimal body lean and a stable, planted feel at speed. The EV runs the 0-60 mph sprint in the mid-9-second range (about average for EVs not named Tesla), though the immediate, off-the-line rush makes it feel quicker. Freeway merging is quick and painless. Top speed is electronically limited to 90 mph. Like all EVs, the Soul accelerates like a scalded rabbit — for the first hundred feet or so. That’s because its 81 kW electric motor is a torque-machine, producing a neck-whipping 210 lb-ft of torque. With all it has going for it, the Soul could be the exact right car for a shopper intent on an EV. But, for now, they couldn’t get one. The EV was developed primarily to help Kia satisfy California’s air-quality standards, and presently is sold only to Golden Staters. So why did Kia go to the trouble of shipping the Soul EV to Eastern Washington for our test? Apparently, strong first-year sales may justify opening new markets, Washington being a prime candidate. Perhaps soon, Northwest greenies will have a fresh new face to consider. 2015 Kia Soul EV Exclaim Vehicle base price: $34,525 Trim level base price: $35,700 As tested: $36,625 Optional equipment: carpeted floor mats EPA ratings: 105 MPGe/120 city/92 highway [© 2014 The Spokesman-Review] http://inhabitat.com/test-drive-2015-kia-soul-ev-feels-more-refined-than-the-gas-powered-version/ TEST DRIVE: 2015 Kia Soul EV feels more refined than the gas-powered version by Marc Carter, 03/06/15 [images / Marc Carter and Kia http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/03/2015-Kia-Soul-EV-Review-0003.jpg http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/03/2015_Kia_Soul_EV_0008.jpg ] So you want an electric car, but don’t want something as quirky as a Mitsubishi i-MiEV or Nissan Leaf, but a Tesla Model S is too far out of your price range. Fortunately EV technology has improved a lot in the last few years and now it’s possible for an automaker to turn a conventional gas-powered vehicle into a zero-emissions electric vehicle with minimal changes. Enter the 2015 Kia Soul EV. On the outside it looks exactly like the regular Soul, but under the skin its gas engine has been swapped out with an all-electric powertrain. Does the transition work? Kia gave me the keys for a week to experience its first electric vehicle and the result? It’s very, very good. The boxy Soul is Kia’s most popular vehicle and this year buyers can now choose the new electric Soul EV. With an estimated driving range of 93 miles, the Soul EV has the longest electric driving range of most fully electric vehicles, with the exception of the Tesla Model S. To compare, the Nissan Leaf can travel up to 84 miles. With a Level 2 240-volt charger, you can fully recharge the Soul EV in less than five hours, but the new DC Fast Charge capability gives you the ability to recharge its battery up to 80 percent in a mere 30 minutes. The Soul EV can also be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet, but it will take up to 24 hours to fully recharge its battery at that level. On the outside, most buyers will find it hard to tell the difference between the Soul EV and its gas-powered brother. Since the dirty gas engine and its radiator are now gone, you’ll notice a few small changes to the Soul EV’s face. Instead of working as a vent for the gas engine, the grill has been redesigned and is now used as the cover for the charging ports. Other changes include new alloy wheels, different badges and some unique color options. How does it drive? The gas-powered Soul is a fun, nimble vehicle to drive and most of that can be said about the Soul EV. With an extra 600 pounds to lug around, thanks to the large battery, the Soul EV feels a bit more planted to the road. The good thing is that the electric motor’s instantaneous torque and the single speed transmission make the Soul EV feel much faster than it actually is. The Soul EV accelerates quickly from a stop and the best part is that it’s incredibly quiet, unlike the gas-powered version. Drivers can alter the amount of brake-regenerating through a “B” mode, which easily brings the Soul EV to a stop once the throttle is let off. I tried driving in this mode, but at most times it was too aggressive. An Active Eco button can also be pushed to help you achieve the most efficient driving style possible. Driving around the streets of Los Angeles for a week, the Soul EV became a very easy electric car to live with. Its interior is nearly identical to the standard Soul, so there aren’t any significant penalties to its cargo capacity or rear seat space. Thanks to the fact that the Soul EV doesn’t have a gas engine or transmission that has to shift gears, the Soul EV actually felt a lot more refined than the standard Soul. With only 93 miles of driving range, the Soul EV will give you a bit more range anxiety than a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt, but it wasn’t too much of an issue, since new chargers seem to be popping up every day around Los Angeles. Pricing for the Soul EV starts at $33,700 before the available tax incentives. In California the final price can drop as low as $23,700 after the available federal and state incentives. If you’ve been waiting for a day when electric vehicles can look more like a regular car, the day is here. The Soul EV and other models like the VW e-Golf now make it even easier to make the switch to an electric vehicle. [© inhabitat.com] ... http://inhabitat.com/kia-prices-the-2015-soul-ev-at-33700-slightly-higher-than-the-nissan-leaf/ Kia Prices the All-Electric 2015 Soul EV at $33,700 ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+subject%3Asoul+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date Read more Soul EVLN items on evdl For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date http://wardsauto.com/industry-voices/you-can-t-spell-inevitable-without-ev Electric cars simply are more convenient than ice http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10538 4 Phoenix ZEUS 14passenger e-buses for NASA JPL Pasadena CA campus http://fwbusinesspress.com/fwbp/article/1/9123/Breaking-News/Grapevine-Mills-plugs-into-eVgo-electric-vehicle-stations.aspx Simon installs eVgo EVSE @Grapevine&Katy Mills TX sites + EVLN: $75k 2017 Audi Q6 EV as Tesla rival r:293km ts:200kph 0-60mph:7s + EVLN: Renault Twizy and Kangoo EVs to be sold in Canada {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-2015-Kia-Soul-EV-feels-more-refined-than-the-ice-version-tp4674217.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)
