Kia has announced pricing on its all-new
Soul
EV, the South Korean automaker’s first foray into the electric segment.
The
all-electric version of Kia’s
most popular vehicle will start at $33,700 when it goes on sale in October.
That price doesn’t include destination or any state or federal tax credits or
incentives.
Buyers
in California could lop off $2,500 for the state’s electric-vehicle rebate, and
up to $7,500 for a federal tax credit, depending on their income, pushing the
price as low as $23,700.
The
all-new Kia Soul EV is the
first electric car from the South Korean brand. It uses a 27-kWh lithium-ion
battery for an estimated range of 80 to 100 miles.
Kia will also lease
the Soul EV for $249 a month, but that price is for 36 months, includes a
$1,999 down payment and is based on the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
The
Soul EV will be available only in California at its October launch. In 2015, Kia hopes to bring the EV to other
states that follow California’s lead in requiring automakers to sell
zero-emission vehicles. Those states could include Connecticut, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and
Vermont.
California
has long had the most eager audience for electric vehicles. Just this week, the
100,000th plug-in vehicle was sold in the Golden State, which accounts for 40%
of all plug-in vehicles in the U.S.
Gov.
Jerry Brown has said he wants 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road in
California by 2025. The California Air Resources Board requires all automakers
selling vehicles in the state to offer at least one that is zero-emissions.
This
has led to a surge of pure-electric vehicles from brands such as Ford, Fiat,
Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Chevy and Mercedes-Benz. Critics of the requirement --
even those among the automakers themselves -- argue that it’s forcing
money-losing electric vehicles onto the general public when supply far
outreaches demand.
Indeed,
widespread adoption of EVs has yet to catch on throughout the nation; just 1%
of households in the U.S. have an electric vehicle.
Models
such as the Kia Soul EV
are designed to look and feel just like their gas-powered counterparts. The new
Kia uses the automaker’s funky -- and popular -- front-wheel-drive Soul
crossover as its foundation. The car’s boxy shape allowed Kia to tuck the
air-cooled lithium-ion batteries into the floor without cutting into the Soul’s
prized functionality.
Those
air-cooled, 27-kWh batteries power an electric motor that makes 109 horsepower
and 210 pound-feet of torque. The batteries recharge in under five hours using
a 240-volt outlet. Top speed on the Soul EV is 90 mph.
The
all-electric Kia comes standard with a navigation system, rear-view camera,
Bluetooth connectivity and a smartphone app that lets drivers control the
charging timers and pre-heat or cool the car when it’s plugged in.
The
Soul EV Plus will sell for $35,700 and adds heated and cooled leather seats,
fog lights and power-folding mirrors.
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