Soul EV to offer 280 mile range, says Kia

Make its European debut at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show next month, Kia's new Soul EV will feature an electric range of 280 miles, according to the manufacturers press release.

Kia claims that new electric motors used in the model are up to 30 per cent more energy efficient than Europe’s current best-selling electric car.

A Combined Charging System (CCS) with DC fast-charging capability is supplied as standard, and it's available in choice of long-range (64 kWh) and standard-range (39.2 kWh) powertrains. Both battery packs can be recharged from 20 per cent up to 80 per cent capacity in around 42 minutes from a 100 kW DC fast-charger.

European customers can also specify an optional SUV Pack, which elevates the design with the addition of bolder wheel arch and side sill cladding, as well as a skid plate on the base of the front bumpers.

Kia's 100,000-mile warranty also covers the car’s electric motor and battery pack.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The market has changed significantly in recent years, and in 2018 – the outgoing model’s final year on-sale, Kia sold more of the zero-emissions Soul EV in Europe than petrol and diesel versions combined. Kia is recognised today as a global leader in electrified vehicles, with a growing range of mild-hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Electrified models accounted for one in eight Kia cars sold in Europe in 2018, up from one in ten in 2017, and the Soul EV will further build on this momentum.”

The Soul EV goes on-sale across Europe towards the end of the first quarter of 2019. UK specification, on-sale date and pricing will be announced in due course.