Kia Niro EV to launch later this year

[JejuSoul]

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According to this article: - http://www.etnews.com/20170323000270

Kia will release the N iro EV early next year with 200km of range.
and
Kia will then release the Stonic EV late next year with 300km of range. Edit - no this will not happen.

The N iro will have the same platform as the I oniq.
The Stonic will have the same platform as the Kona. Edit - no this is not correct.

The article suggests Kia will keep all 3 small EV SUVs but is not planning any sedan type EVs

Gasoline version of the Stonic being tested.

Note: All 3 of these cars are subcompact crossovers as defined here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_sport_utility_vehicle

The Kona EV also due out next year might look like this. from pushevs -http://www.pushevs.com/2017/05/26/details-hyundai-kona-electric/

 

[JejuSoul]

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First N iro PHEV sold.

From http://www.kukinews.com/news/article.html?no=455105

Kim Yoo-seok, (48), who was in charge of the first car battery development of his lead role in the actual N iro PHEV
Now he is director of energy strategy and battery division at SK Innovation
It says N iro PHEV uses SK batteries. I am surprised because Hyundai / Kia always used LG Chem for their Hybrids

In all electric mode the N iro phev is rated at combined fuel economy 5.1 km/kWh ( city 5.5, highway 4.7 ) - and range on a single charge = 40 km

It comes with L2 cable - same as soul ev.
L1 ICCB cable is 500,000 won optional extra - same as soul ev.
No fast charging

---------------------------------------------

I don't expect the N iro PHEV to sell well in Korea because of the lop-sided subsidy structure. Far more subsidies are available for pure electrics.

Here's the figures for the first 4 months of this year for Kia's domestic sales.
Soul EV is 239 domestic and 2,315 export, Ray EV is 9.
N iro Hybrid is 4,482 and 20,434 export.
I can't find any figures for Kia PHEV sales.



Hyundai's figures for domestic and export are -

I oniq Electric - 1,871 , 2,793
I oniq PHEV - 42 , 374
I oniq Hybrid - 1,276 , 14,035
S onata Hybrid - 1,254 , 4,063
S onata PHEV - 24 , 422
Grandeur Hybrid - 1,564 , 0

Note - there is a six month waiting list for the I oniq Electric.

 

[JejuSoul]

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According to this article the launch of the N iro EV is August 2018. - http://autotimes.hankyung.com/apps/news.sub_view?popup=0&nid=02&c1=02&c2=02&c3=00&nkey=201705291805321
It keeps getting pushed back it seems.

 

[SoulEV2016]

it's not the clone of the Hyundai Kona ? http://pushevs.com/2017/05/26/details-hyundai-kona-electric/

 

[JejuSoul]

it's not the clone of the Hyundai Kona ? http://pushevs.com/2017/05/26/details-hyundai-kona-electric/

No, the N iro EV is the clone of the I oniq Electric.
The Kia clone of the Kona will be the Stonic. Edit - no I was wrong about the Stonic. It is not at all like the Kona.
Confusing isn't it!

Update: Kia is now saying they will not release the Stonic EV. --- Kia rules out EV options for Stonic

Having three small crossover EVs was clearly too much. I am still wondering if there is room for two.

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The gasoline Kona has been released in Korea. They gave a teaser that an electric version would be coming soon.



This gasoline car is already heavily advertised in Korea. I have never seen an ad for an electric car here.
Edit - just a week later and I saw an ad on TV for the I oniq. I'll post details in that thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM94e2S-NBg
--------------------------------------------------

This article claims the Kona will have a battery with a capacity of 63-70 kWh.
Hyundai, Kia to focus on small electric SUVs amid Tesla entry

 

[JejuSoul]

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The Kona EV looks set to debut in South Korea in Spring 2018.

see - Hyundai Motor Company Planning to Overcome Weak Domestic Sales through Electric Vehicles

Good news for me. I've been seeing quite a few of the gasoline Kona's around. It looks great. Am hoping to buy a Kona EV in the Spring!

also see - The Kona EV's range would reportedly be around 240 miles on a charge, which would be competitive with the Chevy Bolt.

 

[JejuSoul]

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An early view of the new Kia Niro EV test driving last month here in Jeju.



And here is the same Kia Niro EV being followed by the new Hyundai Kona EV

 

[JejuSoul]

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According to this article - http://www.etnews.com/20171120000253
Both the Kona EV and the Niro EV will have a 'higher' trim with a 60.4kWh battery.
This Kona EV has a range of 390km. This Niro EV has a range of 380km.
The Kona EV battery will be LG Chem. The Niro EV will be SK Innovation.
The lower trim has a 40kWh battery, but I don't know the range figures.

---

Update Jan 13th 2018
The numbers for the N iro EV seem to be wrong given that they do not match those stated at the N iro EV debut at CES - see below.
Although 64kWh may be total capacity and 60,4 actual capacity. I think it is more likely the number above is wrong.
The article also states there will be no new I oniq Electric this year.
The range for the 40kWh N issan L eaf also seems completely wrong, but they may be because it is from a different measuring standard.

 

[mysoulev]

i'm hoping the Kona or Niro will have a dual motor (AWD) version.

 

[JejuSoul]

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The concept version of the Niro EV just displayed at CES. A production version of the Niro EV will be sold in Korea from October this year.

The Niro EV concept is powered by a next-generation electric vehicle powertrain that pairs a 64 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack with a 150 kW electric motor. The Niro EV Concept has a driving range of 238 miles. (383 km)










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According to this Korean article in etnews there will be two new Kia EVs released in October this year. Both with 300km of range. The N iro EV and a 'next generation' Soul EV. These two cars presumably have about 45kWh battery. I do not know when the 64kWh version of the N iro EV will be released. These will be the first cars to use the new NCM 811 cells from SK Innovation. Rumour has it the new NCM 811 cells from LG Chem will first be going into the 64kWh Nissan Leaf next year (2019). Hence the Kona EV due out in April this year will not be getting the new cells (initially at least).

An earlier Korean article in etnews states that the launch of the N iro EV will be in June not October. This article also gives more details about the NCM cells used in the battery. I will post that stuff in the battery chemistry thread. Again it states SK will be first to market with the new cells ahead of LG Chem.

Here's another article mentioning an updated Soul EV later this year - http://www.consumernews.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=523360

Kia Motors Corp. will also introduce its new eco-friendly small SUV the Niro EV sometime in July. It is designed to run for more than 380 kilometers on a single charge. Kia also plans to introduce a successor to the Soul EV in the second half.

 

[JejuSoul]

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The N iro EV went on sale yesterday in Korea. Even though the car is not going to be released until July.
Supposedly the whole year's supply (5000 cars) was sold out in a couple of hours. Probably not true because I just ordered one and the dealer said it is still possible. Mine is 5127.

Details in Korean are here - 클릭! 이 차]니로 EV, 1회 충전으로 380㎞ 달린다 and 니로EV' 이틀만에 5,000대 예약

Interesting to see the comparison with the two versions of the N iro EV against the K ona EV

N iro EV LE 64kWh - 380km but K ona EV 64kWh - 490km
N iro EV ME 39.2kWh - 240km but K ona EV 39.2kWh - 300km

The K ona details are from here - https://www.hyundai.news/eu/feature/all-new-kona-electric/

Those numbers for the K ona EV are not realistic. They are claimed to be WLTP. I have now seen the Korean range numbers for the 64kWh K ona.
They are 390km at 20C and 273 at -7C. Korean range numbers for the 64kWh N iro. are 380km at 20C and 270 at -7C.

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Supposedly the annual production numbers will be K ona EV 18,600 and the N iro EV 21,000.
from Hyundai-Kia Motors to Increase Annual EV Production to 100,000 Units
So in 8 months Hyundai may be able to make 12,400, and in 6 months Kia may be able to make 10,500
Both cars will easily have a much higher demand than this.

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Update June 2018

Official range numbers have now been released. These are based on lab tests, not manufacturer estimates.
Hyundai K ona Electric 64kWh - 405.6km at 20C and 310.2km at -7C.
Kia N iro EV 64kWh - 385.0km at 20C and 303.8km at -7C.

-

 

[notfred]

That's the first time I've seen official range numbers quoting different temperatures. It also matches with what I see on the Soul EV - the official numbers show a drop to 70% and for a quoted range of 150km for the SoulEV that gives a winter range of 105km, which matches my GOM through the winter.

 

[JejuSoul]

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The Korean government range tests all EVs at both room temp and -7C. Getting a full government subsidy requires the car to pass the cold weather test with at least 70% of the normal range.

The figures are here -



For the 2018 Soul EV the ranges are 180km at 20C and 154.2 at -7C.

I wrote about the testing here - [Solved] Dynamometer ... FAIL !

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And here's a video about the new K ona EV -

https://youtu.be/mJjq8w_7N4Q

The 8 inch navi screen in the Kona looks to small. I think they have left room for a bigger display to go in later. I hope this gets fixed by the time they release this car in April.



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A quick comparison of the sizes.

Hyundai K ona Electric

Length: 4.180 mm
Width: 1.800 mm
Height: 1.555 mm
Wheelbase: 2.600 mm

Chevrolet B olt EV

Length: 4.170 mm
Width: 1.770 mm
Height: 1.600 mm
Wheelbase: 2.600 mm

Kia N iro EV

Length: 4.375 mm
Width: 1.805 mm
Height: 1.560 mm
Wheelbase: 2.700 mm

 

[JejuSoul]

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The K ona EV has now been released in Korea.
Here's a photo of the price sheet.


Some details -
The standard car is the 64kWh version. It comes in two trims Modern and Premium.
To get the 39.2kWh version you tick the 'Light Package' option.
The 'Winter Package' is an extra that gives you heat pump and battery heater.

The 64kWh version has nominal voltage 356V and nominal capacity 180Ah. (60Ah * 3)
The 39.2kWh version has nominal voltage 327V and nominal capacity 120Ah. (60Ah * 2)

It seems highly likely given these figures that the cells used in the K ona EV are almost the same as the one we have seen in the B olt EV.
Hence the 64kWh version has 3 cells in parallel to form a cell group and the the 39.2kWh version has 2.
For 64kWh version - 3.7V * 60Ah * 288 cells = 64kWh and 3.7V * 96 cell triplets = 355.2V
compared to the B olt EV - 3.6V * 58Ah * 288 cells = 60kWh and 3.6V * 96 cell triplets = 345.6V

Details on this cell here - Comparing Battery Chemistries

 

[JejuSoul]

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I began this thread just over two years ago. - Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:59 am

And now finally the N iro EV is set to debut in Jeju next week at the 5th Jeju EV Expo.

기아차 전기차 '니로EV', 제주서 글로벌 첫 공개







The two cars in the picture arrived covered in camouflage cloths. Nobody is allowed to see inside. I guess these are both early test mules and that final design and real production has yet to start.

 

[JejuSoul]

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Here's 3 more photos of the N iro EV

 

[JejuSoul]

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At the Busan Motor Show we got the first look inside the new N iro EV.
I'm disappointed. To me this is less appealing than the Soul EV.



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It looks a bit better in this video. Although there is a sign on the dash that says this is not the final production version and things may change.
The sign is not in the top picture, strange.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rD8-3c9NHQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmzPKA_hjV4

 

[guiacan]

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At the Busan Motor Show we got the first look inside the new N iro EV.
I'm disappointed. To me this is less appealing than the Soul EV.

I agree. This is not a good looking interior

 

[JejuSoul]

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For comparison here is the K ona EV. The design is much more modern. I assume these design choices are deliberate. The K ona EV is aimed at a younger demographic than the N iro EV.



And one of the first videos by a user.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIis5ipms3A

 

[JejuSoul]

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The N iro EV has almost been released in Korea. (almost because the early reservation holders are being asked to configure from a photocopied sheet.)
Here's a photo of the price sheet.



It's 1 million won or about 1000 USD more expensive than the K ona EV