Now this was a fun test. What a superior electric car. KIA is making real in roads for all electric cars. Nissan Leaf better watch out!?

For starters, in ECO mode for the car it goes well over 140 miles. No questions asked. When including regenerative braking, the overall efficiency of its electric motor. Nevertheless, the lithium batteries pack a punch.

As Kia riffs on their website:

Meet the eco-friendliest addition to the Soul family: the 2018 Soul EV. It’s the same Soul style standard with a DC Fast Charge port, an estimated driving range of 0-111 miles*, and 210 lb.-ft. of instant torque. The same advanced in-car technology now fully charged with energy-smart innovations, like bio-based cabin materials and the UVO eco connec in one powerfully-efficient, zero-emissions ride. 

In many ways this is a great tough ride for an electric car. The 2015 KIA Motors Soul all electric car had a 135-140 mile range when you include all the regenerative braking. This electric car didn’t make a person feel less confident in its performance. In fact, this electric car surpassed all expectations.

As reported from about the energy density of the EV it’s a powerful pack. The Kia Soul EV is equipped with an advanced power pack featuring lithium-ion polymer battery cells. The pack has a class-leading energy density of 200 Wh/kg. It is the result of a three-year joint development program between Kia Motors Corporation and SK Innovation in Korea.

Engineers from Kia have developed the outstanding power pack featuring 192 lithium-ion polimer battery cells in eight modules, delivering a total power output of 27 kWh. The pack incorporates state-of-the-art thermal control technology to maintain individual cells at optimum temperature and structural design to enhance crash worthiness.

Nickel Batteries

Nickel-rich NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) cathode material is used in the mass production of the battery cells for Soul EV. Therefore, “Energy density”, which is dependent on cathode capabilities. It is a core performance factor deciding EV driving range. By exploiting the class-leading energy density of its battery, the Soul EV offers a driving range of ‘around’ 200 km on a single charge.

The Kia Soul EV has become the latest model from the Korean brand to earn important certifications. One even for its outstanding whole-life environmental credentials.

TÜV Nord, an independent technical inspection organisation, has certified the new Kia Soul EV according to the ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard. LCA examines the environmental impact of both the car and the overall manufacturing process. All throughout its whole life. Thereby taking into account factors. For that’s such as choice of materials, tailpipe emissions and recycling.

Comparing the Soul EV to its diesel counterpart currently on sale in Europe. Seems the zero-emissions electric vehicle scored particularly strongly for ‘Global Warming Potential’. Thereby emitting 39.7% fewer greenhouse gases over the whole life of the vehicle. For I mean pollutants such as carbon dioxide and methane.

So the Soul EV also scored an improvement in ‘Photochemical Oxidant Creation Potential’. This is limiting the amount of smog created by the vehicle’s manufacturing process. It’s full cycle and by the vehicle itself throughout its life.

Kia’s first TÜV Nord certification was earned in 2008 with the first-generation cee’d, and this year’s certifications bring the total number of Kia models with ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) certification to 11.

Finally, Please note this was not my test of the Kia Soul EV. However this one is pretty close to what I got.

In the meantime here’s the facts of the UK road test.

Since the Kia Soul EV’s UK launch in October 2014, its homologated range of 132 miles. It has been a positive talking point as it brings a new benchmark to its class. To prove this statement of excellence, Kia Motors UK set up a real-world range test, neutrally conducted by external eco and green car experts, Next Green Car.

Authenticity to the Test

Bringing further authenticity to the test, the weather was not favourable. With an average temperature of 8 degrees centigrade throughout the day, coupled with both light and heavy rain, it dampened performance slightly, triggered heavier traffic and used more battery power for on board heating, screen wipers and headlights. In addition to these factors the driver was using satellite navigation, heated seats and radio, as with every day driving.

Yea The full range achieved on this test was 125.3 miles, with a conservative estimate of a further nine miles shown on the display; equalling a total range potential of 134.9 miles.

A diagnostics report run on the vehicle soon after the test showed the battery still had 13% battery remaining, which equates to 15 miles when calculated against the homologated range of 132.

That’s meaning a realistic potential range of 140.3.

The likelihood is there were more miles to be had considering the Soul EV’s intelligent regenerative braking system. That’s teamed with available driver controlled functions to extend range. Which is limited use of on-board electronics, air conditioning, driving frugally etc.

Since the Kia Soul EV’s launch in October 2014 it has impressed with its class leading battery technology. Also the homologated range, high level of equipment, excellent driving experience and everyday practicality. This range test not only proves the Soul EV is fully capable of its stated performance figures. However it also that it operates above expectation in normal UK road conditions and scenarios.

For the entire story from the Digital News Agency