Kia has been one of many forerunners lately within the electrical automobile house, however the Korean producer’s EV journey didn’t begin in 2014 with the Soul EV as most individuals are inclined to consider.
As a matter of reality, Kia’s first manufacturing EV launched in 2011 within the type of the Ray EV, a Korean market-only metropolis automotive that’s nonetheless produced to today (extra on that later).
Developed particularly to adjust to South Korea’s “gentle automotive” (Gyeongcha) class that gives tax incentives for vehicles with a size beneath 3,600 millimeters (141.7 inches) and width beneath 1,600 mm (63.0 in), the Kia Ray was getting on a bit, regardless of being subjected to a facelift in 2017. A yr later, manufacturing ended because of the automobile’s quick driving vary and the nation’s lack of charging infrastructure.
However Kia wasn’t keen to surrender on its smallest EV, which was additionally Korea’s first mass-produced EV at its launch in 2011. Final summer season, the automaker unveiled a second facelift for the Ray. Whereas the interior combustion engine-powered model of the automotive was unveiled precisely a yr in the past, the EV is simply now happening sale in its house market, and it brings important powertrain upgrades over its predecessor.
The up to date mannequin is powered by a CATL-supplied 35.2-kilowatt-hour LFP battery, which has nearly double capability over the earlier mannequin’s 16.4-kWh pack.
In consequence, the Kia Ray EV now presents a manufacturer-estimated mixed driving vary of 127 miles (205 kilometers) on a single cost, in comparison with 86 miles (138 km) earlier than.
The electrical motor can also be extra highly effective, delivering 64 kilowatts (86 horsepower) and 108 pound-feet of torque in comparison with the earlier mannequin’s 50-kW (67-hp) motor. Charging the battery from 10 to 80 % takes 40 minutes utilizing a 150 kW DC quick charger, whereas going from 10 to one hundred pc SoC takes 6 hours utilizing a 7kW charger.
“The brand new Ray EV is ready to broaden prospects’ choices with a mileage of greater than 200 km, optimized driving efficiency for the metropolitan heart and a spacious inside. It is the only option for purchasers ready for an entry electrical minicar,” a Kia official instructed Korea Financial Every day.
Kia will start taking pre-orders for the Ray EV from August 24, forward of the tiny four-seat EV’s official launch on September 12. The facelifted Kia Ray EV begins round $20,800 (27.75 million received), which makes it an reasonably priced metropolis automotive choice for Korean prospects. The worth is aggressive contemplating that the earlier model model of the Ray EV value 45 million received.
The automaker additionally plans to launch a single-seater van model of the brand new electrical metropolis automotive, which is able to goal the self-employed and small enterprise homeowners. The Kia Ray can also be bought with a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.
Trade sources predict that the Kia Ray EV will reboot Korea’s small EV and minicar market, doubtless emulating the Nissan Sakura electrical kei automotive’s success in Japan.