Not only the new Kia Soul EV gets more range, it’s also more efficient, even with a heavier battery.
Kia-world.net did a nice roundup of the battery’s changes. Let’s see:
Current battery
- Rated capacity: 75 Ah (37,5 Ah x 2)
- Battery weight: 277 kg
- Rated voltage: 360 V
- Number of cells: 192 (96s2p)
- Total battery capacity: 27 kWh (192 x 37,5 Ah x 3,75 V)
New battery
- Nominal capacity: 80 Ah (40 Ah x 2)
- Battery weight: 290 kg
- Rated voltage: 375 V
- Number of cells: 200 (100s2p)
- Total battery capacity: 30 kWh (200 x 40 Ah x 3,75 V)
Considering that most DC fast charges are capped by the Amps, the battery voltage increase will probably make the new Kia Soul EV charge at a higher rate.
While the battery capacity increases 11 % from 27 to 30 kWh, the range increases by a higher margin. Let’s see:
Current battery
- NEDC range: 212 km
- EPA range: 93 miles (150 km)
- South Korean cycle: 148 km
New battery
- NEDC range: 250 km – 18 % increase
- EPA range (not confirmed yet): 113 miles (182 km)
- South Korean cycle: 180 km – 22 % increase
Both South Korean and the EPA test cycles are very similar, this is why I estimate that the EPA range will increase by the same margin.
Now let’s compare the range and efficiency figures in the South Korean test cycle.
|
Electric car |
Range |
Efficiency |
||||
|
Combined |
City |
Highway |
Combined |
City |
Highway |
|
|
2017 Kia Soul EV |
148 km |
166 km |
130 km |
20 kWh/100 km |
17,86 kWh/100 km |
22,73 kWh/100 km |
|
2018 Kia Soul EV |
180 km |
208 km |
156 km |
19,23 kWh/100 km |
16,67 kWh/100 km |
22,22 kWh/100 km |
It’s amazing how much efficient are Kia’s and Hyundai’s electric powertrains, this is especially surprising considering that the Kia Soul has the aerodynamics of a brick.
If the EPA range is confirmed to be 113 miles (182 km), the new 2018 Kia Soul EV finally surpasses the – now outdated – 2017 Nissan Leaf with the 30 kWh battery and gets a much similar range to some other electric cars.
- 2017 BMW i3 BEV (94 Ah battery): 114 miles (183 km)
- 2017 Ford Focus Electric: 115 miles (185 km)
- 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric: 124 miles (200 km)
- 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf: 125 miles (201 km)
All the electric cars listed above have an EPA range less than 200 miles and need price drops to become more appealing. This is exactly what will happen when more higher range electric cars start to appear and it’s another reason why the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf 2 and Tesla Model 3 are very important, even to the ones that will not buy them.
Despite the very un-aerodynamic shape, this is an EV that I really like – as most of Kia/Hyundai cars. What about you?
More info:
Fernando M
26 Mar 2017Pedro, all people say usable capacity are 27 kWh and 30 kWh. Is false, are total capacity.
Pedro Lima
26 Mar 2017Hello Fernando.
Did you saw Tony Williams test of the Kia Soul EV?
“The Kia Soul EV properly advertises the size of the battery that the consumer cares about; the useable stored autonomous energy. We found that to be almost exactly 27kWh useable, which means that the actual Kia Soul EV battery size is about 30.5kWh total.”
http://insideevs.com/kia-soul-ev-range-autonomy-demonstration-nets-100-miles/
I do agree that this isn’t something that is 100 % clear and Kia doesn’t help either.
Fernando M
30 Mar 2017EPA results:
Nissan Leaf 2013, 24 kWh, net 21 kWh, 84 milles, 134 km, 15,67 kWh/100 km
Renault SM3, 24 kWh, net 22 kWh, 84 milles, 134 km, 15,67 kWh/100 km
Nissan Leaf 2015, 30 kWh, net 27 kWh, 107 milles, 171 km, 15,78 kWh/100 km
KIA Soul EV, xx kWh, 27 kWh net, 93 milles, 148 km ¿¿¿18,24 kWh/100 km??? is imposible
KIA Soul EV, 27 kWh, 24,3 kWh net, 93 milles, 148 km, 16,43 kWh/100 km, POSSIBLE
(with NEDC is the same)
Search in google 실사용 24.3kWh
http://feeljin.opendocs.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=100&wr_id=181
http://m.auto.daum.net/m/review/newsview.daum?newsid=MD20160314164525624
http://www.ihansung.co.kr/sub_read.html?uid=16419
But all world think 27 kWh and 30 kWh net for Soul EV, false.
Pedro Lima
30 Mar 2017Thanks Fernando for your reply.
You have convinced me, I’ll revise the article and from now on I’ll refer to Kia Soul EV’s advertised battery capacity as total, not usable.
Thanks again!
Fernando M
31 Mar 2017More sources for Norway:
http://elbil.no/vi-har-testet-topputstyrt-kia-soul/
TEKNISKE DATA: Kia Soul Electric
Ytelse: 81,4 kW/111 hk
Dreiemoment: 285 Nm
Rekkevidde (oppgitt): 100-212 km (avhengig av vær, temperatur og kjørestil)
Batteri: 27 kWt (netto 24,3 kwh, litiumion)
Egenvekt: 1.490 kg
LxBxH (m): 4,14×1,80×1,59
Toppfart: 145 km/t
0-100 km/t: 11,2 sek
https://elbilforum.no/forum/index.php?topic=11119.0
Pedro Lima
31 Mar 2017Thanks again Fernando!
Artnuk Shibb
16 May 2017Apart frem the Opel or Chevrolet Bolt, way ahead of range competitors, you forget about the Renault Zoe, also way ahead all the mentioned cars/competitors, with EPA like 300 km (I managed 280 with ease). So you have to be a really heavy Kia supporter to buy a new updated one with range less than the others.
Charles Mitchell
28 May 2017I lease a 2017 Soul EV+ and the 93~95 mile range I get on a charge is fine for my urban driving, but I understand how important range is to gaining new customers who find the Soul EV+’s range of less than most cars with half a tank of gas as worrisome. Frankly, I don’t thin a 10% increase is enough. It needs to be doubled. My advice (I am bold) to KIA is to drop the MRSP of the Soul EV+ $7500 (they essentially do that now if you lease) and offer a EV! for about $35,000 with 2X the range. If will be interesting to see if they can stuff enough batteries in the current form factor without loosing too much of the great functionality the Soul EV has. Maybe there’s enough room under the rear seat and under the rear hatch floor to do it. If so, I would happily lease the 2020 Soul EV! when my lease runs its course. I love my peppy little EV+ and would love to be able to drive Austin to Dallas on a charge.