Any hints about 2017 release date?

[JejuSoul]

However, how legitimate are these rumors? .

For the MY2017 they are fact - it has already been released. http://www.kia.com/kr/vehicles/soul-ev/features.html
There are no major changes. That is okay, for the next few months, it is still a good car. My disappointment is that they are not trying to sell this car in higher volumes either by advertising it more or by lowering the price.

For the MY2018 they are rumours. No credibility at all. Imagine a bar-room conversation where a bored journalist talks to a bored PR hack after a boring 2017 launch event.

"Are you going to introduce something new for MY2018"
"Yes"
"Will it match the latest I oniq EV"
"mmm" mumbles and nods head

The journalist then goes away and writes an article suggesting that next year the Soul EV has the same spec as the I oniq EV.

 

[notfred]

That was added on the 2016s, it's only the 2015s that don't lock the charging handle when you lock the doors.

 

[SoulEV2016]

in my country, we have the "lock" (with central locking system) on the charging plug with the luxury/ultimate version (leather vented seat).

you can not unplug the charging plug when the Soul EV is closed.
a mecanical bar lock this.

 

[notfred]

It would be actually fairly easy to push that bar in if you wanted to unplug it, but it does stop the casual vandal.

 

[JejuSoul]

The Kia press conference at the Paris Motor Show has been and gone. Nothing about the Soul EV. - Kia at the Paris Motor Show
So when is the 2017 release date outside of Korea? And what is new?

Rumours abound.

"The Kia Soul EV is set to get a mid-life refresh... details will be announced later this week at the Paris Motor Show" ; - says Soul EV benefits from Kia range update

"2017 Kia Soul EV (36 kWh) - January 2017"; - says Upcoming BEV updates

 

[Nicodemus]

Hey guys,

Just last week I got off the phone with the top EV dealer in the eastern region. He offered me some more details. First off, in order to be eligible for government grants they need to sell a particular number of an EV model. So that is the primary reason as to why the 2016 model is being rebranded as the 2017 model. However, sometime during next year, possible soon enough to still be called a 2017 model, the Soul EV will get a range boost to 136 miles.

He was unsure when exactly that would happen but that England would receive these new models right before the USA would. That being said, I believe we are going to wait to see what happens.

 

[JejuSoul]

Great post on the German forum by DerMaddin here http://www.goingelectric.de/forum/kia-soul-ev/kia-soul-ev-2017-t18746.html

He contrasts the 2016 and 2017 using images from the manuals.

https://carmanuals2.com/kia/soul-ev-2016-owner-s-manual-53034
https://carmanuals2.com/kia/soul-ev-2017-owner-s-manual-101849

So briefly summarized: Not a lot!
- Some Software updates
- Seat Belts warning
- Changed sunroof control
- fold-out armrest or drink holder in the rear seat
UVO

Hope no one has been waiting all year for this.

Click the image for bigger version.

 

[SoulEV2016]

the manual is strange about he "electronic brake" ...

we have on the Soul EV :
- an hydraulic brake with pump
- an electric brake (separate motors on the rears discs)

so, the electronic brake ... is the process after the OFF switch that it pump ? (hydraulic).

I hear this but i use always electric brake from the rears discs in a downhill/uphill park.

 

[mtndrew1]

According to the 2017 US manual here https://carmanuals2.com/get/kia-soul-ev-2017-owner-s-manual-101849 the 80% charge option has officially been removed. If my math is correct I suspect the EPA range number will be 103.

I like that the quick charger doesn't stop until 94% SOC.

 

[JejuSoul]

mtndrew1: good finds. thanks

The EPA site hasn't been updated to show any change in range.

But yes the manual shows that standard charging is now to 100% only. The 80% option has been removed.

I am really pleased though that a better option has replaced the removed 80% We now have this as an alternative to 100%

Congrats to Kia. I thought this change would be purely negative, but that second option allows users to charge to any percentage they want.

For Chademo it says we can charge directly to 94%. I have no problem with this. It is great when you pay per charge. We pay by kWh so makes no difference. Also great if you're eating a meal during the charge session. You don't need to come out and replug the car.

 

[mtndrew1]

It probably wasn't worth the cost to recertify the 2017 Soul EV with the EPA when the 2018 will likely have a new battery and will need to be tested again. They'll sell the same amount of compliance Souls in CARB states whether the range number is 93 or 103.

As far as "setting the charge to any percentage" I don't see anywhere in the manual that it implies the user has the ability to select anything other than 100% charge. Could you clarify?

 

[Astro57]

I picked up my 2017 today, I don't see any obvious changes from the 2016 that I test drove.

 

[SoulEV2016]

Android AUTO / CarPlay and 94% Chademo (in 1 action) charge are only the modified features.
Capacity is planned on 2018.

Car is good, why would change this ?
Electricity is simple and robust.

 

[JejuSoul]

There's another thread now discussing the possibility of an improved battery for the MY2018 Soul EV - 2017 Soul EV page is up (kinda)
I am copying a post from the there.

Kia Soul EV is getting a new 35 kWh battery in Korea this year. - http://www.etnews.com/20170119000323

 

[SmoothJ]

Android AUTO / CarPlay and 94% Chademo (in 1 action) charge are only the modified features.
Capacity is planned on 2018.

Car is good, why would change this ?
Electricity is simple and robust.

I wonder if we can just get a update to the BMS to allow us to charge to the 94% in CHAdeMO.

EDIT I also just noticed another thing when reviewing the 2017 manual. Did the top speed of the vehicle just increase to over 100 MPH?

http://cdn.goingelectric.de/forum/resources/image/32458 (look at 7-7)