The
very first 2015 Kia Soul
EV electric cars are now being sold in California, adding a 19th plug-in
vehicle to that state's market.
And its
final EPA range and efficiency ratings may drive buyers in other states to
demand that they get the chance to buy it too.
Given
the apparent desire for plug-in family vehicles, this tall wagon may come
closer to accommodating more kids and gears than other electric competitors.
The
2015 Soul EV is rated at 93
miles of range--more than any electric car on sale without a Tesla
powertrain--and 105 MPGe, or Miles Per Gallon Equivalent.
Among
larger electric cars, its 93-mile range is exceeded only by the 103-mile,
Tesla-powered Toyota RAV4 EV electric crossover compliance car (which will soon
end its limited sales run) and the two Tesla Model S versions, at 208 and 265
miles.
The Soul EV's added
range is due to a slightly larger lithium-ion battery pack: 28 kilowatt-hours
rather than the Nissan Leaf's 24 kWh and various other cars that range from 20
to 24 kWh.
Moreover,
the electric Soul's
efficiency exceeds the notable 100-MPGe mark, putting it ahead of the far
sleeker Tesla Model S--which is, of course, both larger and much faster.
It's
exceeded by the smaller BMW i3 (the most efficient, at 124 MPGe), the Chevrolet
Spark EV minicar (at 119 MPGe), and a number of other electric cars, many of
them smaller.
The
world's best-selling electric car, the Nissan Leaf, also beats the Soul at 114
MPGe; the low-volume Ford Focus Electric is rated at the same 105 MPGe as the Soul EV.
The
upcoming Volkswagen e-Golf does slightly better even than the Leaf, at 116
MPGe.
MPGe
stands for Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, the distance a car can travel electrically
on the same amount of energy that's contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.
The
2015 Kia Soul EV will start at
$34,500 before the $7,500 Federal income-tax credit for electric cars, and any
available state and local incentives.
The
base model includes navigation, a rearview camera, and the UVO EV Services
smartphone app. For an additional $2,000 , the Soul EV Plus adds leather
seats with heating and ventilation for the driver and front passenger,
power-folding exterior mirrors, projection-style fog lamps, among other
features.
The
2015 Kia Soul EV will also
be offered at a lease rate of $249 a month for 36 months, with $1,999 due at
signing. Note that this rate includes the $7,500 Federal tax credit, thereby
lowering the monthly cost.
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