SoulBox Range Extender project

Piro · Feb 19, 2017

Hello all Soul EV owners
I'm Thomas, and I'm developer of PHEVBox Range Extender and LeafBox (and also solutions for Hybrid4 PSA systems).
I have prepared clone of LeafBox solution for Kia EV. More about LeafBox and whole concept here (KIa solution is just a fork of Leaf solution): http://vtechtuning.eu/leafbox.html

There is no magic in it - range extension in Leaf works perfect, basing on gliding add-on, better torque distribution, improved regen. I would like to check, if KIA EV gives same nice 10-15% range extension. I look for testers.

Installation is simple, results should come immediately. My problem is, that Kia EV is not in distribution in Poland, so I need some support.

PLZ help if you want.

Thomas

PS: Soon I will start FB page dedicated to Kia Soul EV project. Prototypes are ready.

teirhy · Feb 19, 2017

I love your project because I think in fact that we can gain in efficiency, but I have a question: how to manage the passage in N mode on soul because it is a contact while on the leaf is purely software ?

(sorry for my google trad english)

JejuSoul · Feb 19, 2017

Yes. I want to know more on that point too. How do you set regen level 0, so that you can emulate N- Neutral. And still be able to switch to the other regen levels. In this video you show regen level 0 is working, but not how you turn it on and off.

https://www.facebook.com/NissanLeafTuning/videos/362192774149207/

And yes I would be happy to help test this project.

Piro · Feb 19, 2017

In Leaf I emulated glide (N-mode) by controlling power demand level and "gravity" it to exact zero, if driver sets acc pedal in proper range (so LeafBox could find wish of the driver).
Same I have planned for Kia.

JejuSoul · Feb 19, 2017

-
On the i Miev regen level 0 is called C mode or Coasting. I prefer this term to saying 'emulated N'

Am still not sure how L eafBox switches from coasting mode to another regen mode. For example coasting when coming down a hill onto a flat, before slowing down at the traffic lights by lifting the acc pedal and getting regen a few kms further down the road. Hopefully SoulBox will have the facility to swap regen modes.

Piro · Feb 20, 2017

I have solved that in following manner:
SoulBox observes behaviour of the driver, and tries to find, when driver seeks "zero power" position of throttle pedal. It learns automatically and after some time it can easily "gravity" torque demand to zero, even if driver is not especially precise (but it looks that driver wants to glide). While removing leg from throttle or accelerating torque/regen demand is similar to factory one, except more linear torque vs rpm (in Kia demand from throttle pedal is linearized to power demand, not torque - and this reduces efficiency (read idea here: http://vtechtuning.eu/leafbox.html, from Alternative accelerator pedal interpretation for efficiency

By the way, I have added a video, how LeafBox is installed in Nissan Leaf. For Kia Soul EV it is exactly same (5 minutes of work):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIyKtweMWQE

Piro · Mar 1, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Py6jNEyEU

I did a long distance test witn box installed and programmed for Nissan Leaf (as I have no Kia Soul EV here to test it)
172,8 km, or 107,3 miles till turtle with 24kwh 2013 Leaf, 20,4 kWh available (Battery has SOH = 92,6%, a bit worn)
- winter tires, drive in hills (I have no flat terrain

) heat on but minimal possible, seat heating on (LO), ECO mode,
average speed of 62 km/h, I tried to drive not faster than 75, and not slower than 55 km/h
rural area, small cities and villages, maybe 5 stops because of lights, rather smooth drive.
Last 15 km done in higher mountains, as I wanted to be able to return home, so I drived high hill up and down till turtle (I know this is bad for range, but I have no alternative at all - at my home village there are no flat areas longer than 40 m...), and then - I returned home (luckily turtle came 200 m from home).
LeafBox range extender installed.

In 2 weeks I will install normal tires, so I expect improvement, even in our hills.

Piro · Mar 30, 2017

SoulBox is available for Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland via authorised partner - PureElectric

Also PHEVBox and LeafBox and soon - TeslaBox are available there.

http://pureelectric.se

teirhy · Apr 8, 2017

I would be curious to test, but it is a little expensive and especially unavailable in france?

thedutchsoul · May 15, 2017

Same problem,
interesting concept but not available in Netherlands ...

FrkSpain · May 19, 2017

We are some 10 Kia soul Ev owners awaiting to try this SoulBox in Spain :!:
great work , keep in touch !

alexank · Nov 18, 2017

Did the Soul box ever become available?
I know a lot of people in the UK might be interested

jmogollon · Mar 11, 2018

Any chance we can get one in Canada?

Piro · May 14, 2018

We have finished test phase and SoulChip (as we named it) is available.
It is possible to deliver to any place in the World with DHL (about 30$ for quick delivery to countries far from EU).
I also plan to distribute it through distributors, as we do with other solutions (2-phase fast home/portable chargers and other EV car modifications).
Please read more here: https://evtun.com
Tommorow I will try to beat range record, using SoulChip. What is an actual range record with moderate driving?

JejuSoul · May 14, 2018

-
My longest drive was 215km with 13% remaining. - What's your Real world actual range?

I've seen that beaten quite a few times by others but can't find the links.

Update - found a quote for 247km in Slovenia - https://www.facebook.com/groups/SoulEV/permalink/1750003728413566/

Damijan Hrovat said:
...everyday GOM is 145km / 90 miles, in summer with EV driving it goes up to 200km (my record is 247km with 14% left)

Piro · May 14, 2018

Test done, with 50 km/h average, and speeds up to 80 km/h (some city traffic, some rural areas, as flat as possible in my mountain region).
I did it till car stopped. Till dead.
Now I know a real possible range of Kia Soul EV and IMHO I will recomend this car. It was a pleasure to drive these 4+ hours....

https://youtu.be/nTdyYFYjCc4

Limbster · May 16, 2018

Hi Piro,
Looks promising, I have watched the video but can't see how far you went, did I miss something?

Have you done any dyno testing?

Cheers

Piro · May 21, 2018

It was exactly 225km or 140,7 miles.
Friends suggest that I should pump more air to wheels than standard 2.5 bar, so I could do more, but I don't care.
Range is ok for me and Soul is really comfortable.

Limbster · May 22, 2018

I will probably buy a SoulChip, just need to get my Soul first. To have the ability to glide is worth it for me

bgarr33434 · Dec 3, 2018

I have seen the video(s), but I have yet to see a customer review.

SoulBox Range Extender project

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