electric car Archives

The New Kia Soul EV All Electric Debuted at The Chicago Auto Show #FuelCAS @KiA

February 6, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m really interested in the green scene at the auto show. Kia kicked off the Auto Show in style by debuting the new Kia Soul EV, yep it’s all electric and I can’t wait until I get to take it for a test drive. I want to see what power is behind it because Kia has my expectations up.

Set to the sounds of soulful electrified blues music, Kia Motors America (KMA) today hosted the global unveiling of the 2015 Soul EV at the Chicago Auto Show. Scheduled to go on sale in the third quarter of 2014, the Soul EV will be Kia’s first all-electric, zero-emissions car sold in the U.S. and expands the brand’s line of environmentally conscious vehicles. We just purchased an all electric car last year and I LOVE having it. So I’m really excited by the news that Kia now has one because there aren’t that many brands out there that have one that is affordable. The only other two I can think of is Ford and Nissan, it’s time for Kia to put pressure on the other brands to lower their prices right?

The Soul EV joined the refreshed 2014 Optima Hybrid on stage along with the Niro hybrid concept, illustrating Kia’s intent to lead the industry in providing technologically advanced vehicles that also reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources. Kia’s eco-friendly commitment was further underscored when Underwriters Laboratory (UL) honored the Soul EV with the organization’s first automotive environmental validation for its integration of more than 20 bio-friendly materials.

“The new Soul EV is at the forefront of Kia’s ‘Clean Mobility’ program and will offer an even more environmentally friendly option to our customers when it goes on sale later this year,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “The Soul EV retains the fun and funky style as well as the packaging efficiency and utility that have made the gasoline-powered Soul such a huge hit with consumers. And to that winning combination it adds useable real-world range and multiple charging options, making it the perfect EV for everyone.”

The Soul EV will initially be sold in California and Oregon in the West and several Eastern states including New York, New Jersey and Maryland, the regions with the largest EV markets and infrastructure. KMA will look to offer the vehicle in other markets in the near future as infrastructure and demand grow. Pricing for the Soul EV will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch.

Keep an eye out for more details on the Kia Soul EV.

The Low Price For an Electric Drive: The 2013 Nissan LEAF Review

May 27, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

Nissan loaned the 2013 Nissan LEAF to me for one week and this is my experience.

The Nissan LEAF^® gets the equivalent of 129 miles per gallon in the city. That’s right, 129 miles per gallon. [*] How does it achieve these remarkable numbers? With a 100% electric drive system powered by an advanced rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and nine range-maximizing features that help you go farther on every charge. Cool right?

I’m a big fan of going all electric which is why I wanted to review the Nissan LEAF. We were looking at buying a LEAF because they have the best price for an electric vehicle. They start at 28,000 and are comfortable to drive in. The seat is adjustable and heated and the steering wheel is also adjustable. The four of us were a snug fit because the kids feet with their booster seats hit right where the front seat passengers sit. My daughter had no room to move when my husband was driving.

The GPS system worked well and was very easy to use. Charging the car was done in the front of the car and we used our own outlets. I’m the type of person that plugs it in after every drive even if the drive was to the mailbox and back. One of my favorite features, this will sound silly because it’s small when you think about it, was that with the touch of a button you could find every electric charging station in the vicinity. I guess it’s not that small when you suddenly find yourself in need of a charge.

When you have ecoboost on the car drives with quite a lag, so when we drove it we left it off most of the time. Other than that driving it was fine. It’s a very light car and made to be aerodynamic. The rims of the wheels allow for maximum air flow and the shape of the body of the car, including the headlights allow for air to pass allowing for less push and pull and giving you maximum amount of miles.

The average American drives less than 29 miles per day. [*] The Nissan LEAF^® can get you 75 miles on a single charge. [*] And with advanced technology that adjusts constantly to reflect the changes in your battery charge levels—you’ll always know when it’s time to plug-in.