The US EV market has several ‘small’ players, including the Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles. Now, these are ‘small’ compared to the likes of Tesla, which enjoys a massive share in the US electric car market. Back in 2021, around 70% of the EV market share was with Tesla, just like in the past years.
But when it comes to affordable electric cars, brands like Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia EV have definitely made their presence felt. With models like Kia Niro EV and Kia EV6, the North Korean manufacturers have captured the attention of the average American car owner. Read more about the Kia electric cars and get some answers to some common questions about Kia electric.
Does Kia have an Electric Vehicle?
Yes. Kia does have an all-electric vehicle. But before going into the details, there are three types of Electric vehicles. The first is the Battery electric vehicles or BEVs, which are fully powered by electricity. Models like the Kia e-Niro and Kia e-Soul fall under this category, and their batteries are either charged externally via a charger or through regenerative braking.
Hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs use both an electric motor and a conventional gas-powered engine. While the motor starts the engine to gain more power and speed, the combustion engine takes over. Unlike the BEVs, the emission rates are comparatively higher for these hybrid models. The motor is charged only using regenerative braking.
Then there are the plug-in HEVs or PHEVs, which also use both gas and electricity. The electric power is good for shorter travel, but the conventional engine kicks in for long-distance journeys. On the other hand, these can be charged using an external charger, unlike HEVs, hence named plug-in.
According to the recent trend in sales, people are more inclined to buy hybrid vehicles than BEVs. As the charging infrastructure improves and the upfront cost of buying cars reduces, more people will be interested in Battery electric vehicles.
Does Kia make an Electric Vehicle?
The first Kia electric car was the Ray EV, released back in 2011, and then came the Soul EV in 2014. But now, there are many models manufactured by the company, including the upgraded versions of the Kia EV Soul, Niro EV, and the Kia EV6.
The latest model is the 2023 Kia Niro lineup was displayed at the New York auto show on April 13, 2022. With better styling and a bigger cabin, this SUV will be available in Hybrid, Plug-in, and EV variants. The company claims the EV model will have an estimated range of 253 miles.
How much are Kia Electric Cars?
Some models of Kia EV are among the cheapest right now in the US. For instance, the 2022 Kia Niro EV is among the US’s top 10 cheapest electric cars as of February 2022. Models including the 2022 Kia EV6 Light and 2022 Kia EV6 Wind are also affordable and included in the $34,000 to $42,000 price range.
What are the popular Kia Electric Cars?
Kia set a new EV sales record back in 2021, with around 20,389 all-electric cars sold in the US. The two major models that led to this success were the Kia Niro EV and the Kia Soul EV. Because of the success of the 2022 Kia Niro EV and the game-changing Kia EV6, we can expect similar growth in EV sales for Kia.
The company is also planning to unleash the Kia EV9 SUV on the US market in the second half of 2023. Read more about the Kia Niro EV and its specifications below.
Kia Niro EV
Both experts and the owners liked the new and updated Niro EV. The variants of the Niro EV on sale now include 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 versions. It is definitely one of the most upgraded Kia electric vehicle on sale now.
Estimated Range: 239 miles.
Starting MSRP: $39,990
The 2022 version comes with a 201 Horsepower electric drive motor with DC fast charging capability. You can enjoy an automatic climate control with Driver only mode, a 10.25-inch Touchscreen Display with a voice command Navigation System and Collision warning and assistance.
Is the Kia Niro EV all-electric?
The latest 2022 Kia Niro EV is available in three versions: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric variants. Each of them varies in the estimated range and upfront cost.
How long to charge Kia Niro EV?
A Level 1 (AC charge) charge will take a whopping 60 hours to charge Kia Niro EV from 0 to 100% capacity. Meanwhile, the level 2(AC charge) charger will accomplish the same in around 9 hours. The 64kWh battery pack will need 1 hour to charge from 0 to 80% if you are using a DC fast charge.
The company is focusing more on the Kia EV6 and the upcoming 2023 Niro EV and EV9 models. Since the Kia Soul EV is going down in popularity, it will be slowly taken out from production.
What is the future of Kia Electric Vehicles?
Considering the success of Kia EV, the company is planning major releases in the next seven years. The South Korean manufacturer promises to launch seven EVs by 2027.
But the upcoming models will be their original ideas rather than EV variants of their existing gas vehicles. Most of these models will not make their way to the United States. But the company is aiming for models with a 300-mile range and a fast charging time of 20 minutes. They are also planning to improve charging infrastructure and EV servicing process worldwide.
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