Kia Reveals Electrified Soul

Kia Motors Corp. will begin selling its first U.S. electric model, the Soul EV, this autumn.

The car, which was publicly unveiled at the Chicago auto show this week, initially will be marketed in California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Kia has not announced pricing or sales targets.

The Soul EV is equipped with a 360-volt, 27-kWh lithium-ion battery that fits mostly under the floor. The air-cooled, 96-cell unit reduces rear leg room by 3 inches and cuts cargo space 21%, according to the company.

The battery is constructed with ceramic separators, a graphite anode and nickel-cobalt-manganese cathode and a gel electrolyte. The system powers a liquid-cooled motor that delivers 109 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a single-speed, constant-ratio transmission.

Kia says operators can expect a zero-to-60 mph acceleration time of about 12 seconds. The car has an electronically limited top speed of 90 mph.

The Soul EV uses a heat pump (optional on the base model) for heating and cooling. The unit can be activated remotely to pre-heat or cool the interior while the car is charging.

Kia says charging times for the electric Soul range from 24 hours via a 120-volt household outlet to five hours with a 240-volt connection. The company also is working with Bosch, Leviton and AeroVironment on a 50-kW fast-charge system that can replenish the battery to 80% in 33 minutes.