CleanTechies
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Clean Transportation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Green Building
    • Renewable Energy
    • Recycling & Waste
    • Water & Conservation
  • Contact
    • Editorial
      • General Inquiries
      • Article Submission
    • Advertising
      • Advertising & Sponsorship
      • Guidelines
      • Media Kit
  • Are you a CleanTechie?

CleanTechies

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Clean Transportation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Green Building
    • Renewable Energy
    • Recycling & Waste
    • Water & Conservation
  • Contact
    • Editorial
      • General Inquiries
      • Article Submission
    • Advertising
      • Advertising & Sponsorship
      • Guidelines
      • Media Kit
  • Are you a CleanTechie?
Tag:

plug-in

Kia Electrifies Popular Soul Hatchback

Kia Electrifies Popular Soul Hatchback

written by CleanTechies.com Contributor

At the recent 2014 Chicago Auto Show, Kia unveiled its first electric vehicle destined for the United States. The 2015 Kia Soul EV is based on one of Kia’s signature models, the funky and sporty Kia Soul hatchback, which has won a fast cult following among consumers since its introduction to the American market four years ago. Despite its compact dimensions and bold styling, the Soul has become one of Kia’s most popular vehicles in recent years.

With a somewhat larger-than-average 27-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the Soul EV should surpass the driving ranges of other recently introduced compact EVs on the market like the Honda Fit EV (82 miles), the Chevy Spark EV (82 miles), Smart ED (84 miles) and Fiat 500e (87 miles). Kia says the “optimal” range for the Soul EV is roughly 124 miles, but in everyday conditions the Soul will likely receive an EPA rating closer to about 90 miles of range.

The car will provide 109 horsepower and a top speed of 90 mph. Charging will take about five hours using a standard home charging station, but with its fast-charging capability the Soul EV should be able to reach an 80-percent charge level in roughly a half hour at special public charging stations.

The Soul’s built-in popularity among urban drivers both young and old could be its greatest advantage. The hatchback was introduced to the U.S. four years ago in a series of commercials featuring a crew of stylish hamsters cruising down urban thoroughfares blasting music from hip, contemporary artists. The ads won multiple awards and contributed to building the Soul’s image as a fun, cool and urban-friendly vehicle.

The Soul received a full revamping for 2014, modernizing its already unique boxy styling and adding more high-quality materials and roominess to the interior. Many critics noted the surprising amount of cargo space the Soul offers compared to other compacts, as well as an impressive cadre of standard features.

The Soul EV will receive its own styling flourishes, including a solid grill (which opens to reveal the car’s EV charge port) and sleek aerodynamic wheels.

So how many fans will end up taking the plunge into an electric vehicle for the first time because it’s a Soul? The answer will be based on how many of the vehicles Kia makes—the company hasn’t announced planned production figures for the car. Pricing is also yet to be announced, but leases for other limited-production small EVs have recently been slashed to as low as $200 per month.

Beginning this fall, the small plug-in hatchback will become available to drivers in five states: California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon and Maryland.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving.



March 3, 2014 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Incredible Deals Available on Sexy Fisker Plug-in Hybrid

Incredible Deals Available on Sexy Fisker Plug-in Hybrid

written by Walter Wang

The sleek Fisker Karma first went on sale in 2011 at a starting price of $102,000 for the base model. Not only did it look great, the 403-horsepower performance vehicle was capable of more than 30 miles of pure electric driving before resorting to use of gasoline. The combined EPA fuel economy rating for the screaming fast and extremely cool Karma was 52 mpg, and unprecedented level of overall efficiency for a production sports car.

At the same time, as a plug-in hybrid with a backup gasoline engine, the Karma does not induce range anxiety, because the combination of electrons and hydrocarbons means a total driving range of about 300 miles. And it can be quickly refueled at your friendly neighborhood gas station.

Unfortunately, Fisker’s existence was short-lived. In 2012, the Karma experienced a string of technical issues, punctuated by the bankruptcy of Fisker’s sole battery supplier, A123 Systems. Production of the vehicle shut down after just 2,450 units had been built, months after Fisker had projected 10,000 deliveries for 2012 alone. Fisker Automotive filed for bankruptcy in November 2013.

Chinese automotive conglomerate, Wanxiang Group, prevailed last week in its bid to acquire the remaining assets of the defunct plug-in vehicle maker. So, there is still hope for a revival of the green-ish luxury plug-in sports car.

For car fans that fell in love with the Karma, the best hope for putting one in your garage might not require waiting for Wanxiang to resume production, but rather to check the used market. At eBay Motors, there are currently 11 used Karmas available for purchase—most with very low mileage.

What’s more, many pre-owned Karmas sell for about half of their sticker price or less. “Buy it now” prices for low-mileage Karmas often hover near the $60,000 mark. Confidence in Fisker’s future as a company will likely continue to be a major factor in resale value for the vehicle, which suffered numerous recalls and software issues the first time around.

As with many other collector cars, there is an element of risk with keeping rare automobiles in tip-top condition. But those willing to face those challenges will be rewarded with an extraordinary vehicle: an alluring limited-production speedy sports machine that burns more rubber than fuel.

Article by Brad Berman, appearing courtesy ebay Green Driving.



February 24, 2014 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Volvo Takes an Important Step Towards Cordless EV Charging

written by Walter Wang

The idea of cordless charging for electric vehicles has been around for more than a decade now, and several car makers, including Nissan, GM and Volvo, have tried to develop a system that would be able to charge cars without having to plug them in. But, wireless charging is still far from becoming a reality, as the technology is too expensive at the moment, and

Continue Reading


November 14, 2013 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Electric Vehicle Sales on the Rise in 2013, New Analysis Shows

written by Walter Wang

By the end of August, 59,000 electric vehicles had been sold in the U.S. — more than during all of 2012, a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) shows.

That’s good news for a technology sector that’s expected to play an important role in cutting future

Continue Reading


October 25, 2013 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

The Electric BMW i3 Comes With Optional Range-Extender

written by Walter Wang

The base model BMW i3 is a small electric sedan with a stated range of roughly 100 miles. But when the i3 is released in the United States early next year, BMW will become the first plug-in vehicle maker to offer an optional small gasoline engine to extend driving range when the car’s 22-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack runs low on charge.

Continue Reading


October 23, 2013 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Getting Electric on the Road

written by Walter Wang

A lot of people have been waiting to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle since the 1980s. But what was once promised to consumers as an extremely economical way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help conserve the environment turned into another green movement pipe dream. While the talk about electric vehicles was full of hope,

Continue Reading


January 15, 2013 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

“Failed” PEVs Outpace Hybrid Launch

written by Walter Wang

The failure to reach the sales targets for the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf has led to considerable finger pointing about so-far disappointing attempts to mass market plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). PEVs have increasingly become fodder for politics as every misstep reinforces what opponents call their inevitable failure.

Continue Reading


April 9, 2012 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Prius Plug-in Versus Volt: Which Costs Less to Drive?

written by Walter Wang

Now that Toyota’s Prius Plug-in Hybrid has been officially announced, we can begin the comparisons with the other plug-in electric vehicle with an extended driving range, the Chevrolet Volt. The underlying question is which is more important to consumers: electric driving range, or total vehicle

Continue Reading


October 19, 2011 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Talking to Electric Vehicles

written by Walter Wang

Do you remember the show Knight Rider, featuring David Hasselfhoff and KITT, the smooth-talking Trans Am, that aired back in the early ‘80s?

I remember going over to my friend Art’s house and finding his dad glued to the TV set every Friday night watching what I thought was a lame show. But maybe

Continue Reading


June 29, 2011 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Fast DC Charging Is Picking Up Speed

written by Walter Wang

While electric vehicles are only being delivered by the hundreds today, plans for clusters of fast DC charging stations around major cities and along highways are fully underway. During the next 18 months it may be more of a challenge to find enough cars to warrant the chargers’ existence than it will be for EV drivers to find a fast charge station.

Continue Reading


April 14, 2011 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Toyota Prius: A Hybrid for Every Humor

written by Earth & Industry

Akio Toyoda, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corp, promoted his “Prius Family” with the unveiling of the Prius v and Prius c at the Detroit Auto Show on January 10, 2011.

The Prius hybrid came to America in 2000 as “a misunderstood concept struggl[ing] for acceptance”. Now, with nearly 1 million

Continue Reading


January 16, 2011 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Vermont Gets Surge of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

written by Solar Calfinder

It’s not the biggest news of the new week, or the new year, but it is indicative of the gradual tilt toward renewable energy taking place all across America, as Green Mountain Power, a Vermont utility, pledges to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within its service territory.

And while the charging stations themselves

Continue Reading



January 4, 2011 0 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Solar Energy Outlook: More Green Homes and Utilities in 2010 in California

written by Adam Browning

Felix Kramer of Calcars thinks 2010 will be the year of the plug-in car.  He’s got a good case: After years of advocacy and technology development, 2010 is the year that major manufacturers will finally make plug-ins broadly available, and rapidly decreasing battery costs are helping the conversion industry reach new customers and help retrofit the existing fleet at scale.  After years of work and promise, 2010 is the payoff year.

I see a similar trend in solar in California, where years of policy and business development are all coming together to make 2010 an extraordinary year for solar development.

There are four major market drivers:

Continue Reading


January 19, 2010 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest

Ford Focuses on Battery, Engine Innovation and Trucks on Through

written by

Ford’s goal of electrifying its fleet appears to be running on all cylinders. The company is creating battery electric versions of both of its award winners –2009 Car (Focus) and Truck (Transit Connect Van).

Because energy storage will make or break the arrival of electric vehicles, Ford has joined GM in bringing the battery pack assembly and management under its tent.

Ford is investing nearly $1 billion in manufacturing facilities in Michigan that will include hybrid, battery-electric and plug-in vehicles as well as the lithium ion battery packs. Ford manager of global electrified fleets Greg Frenette explained that “there’s a strong tie-in marrying battery control…. to the rest of propulsion, and we’re in the best position to manage that.”

Continue Reading


January 18, 2010 1 comment
0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Newer Posts
Older Posts

CleanTechnica.TV

Listen to CleanTech Talk

CleanTech Talk

Free CleanTechnica Newsletters

CleanTechnica's main newsletter (daily)

CleanTechnica's EV newsletter

CleanTechnica's wind newsletter

CleanTechnica's solar newsletter

CleanTechnica's weekly newsletter

Support Our Work

CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups

Recent CleanTechie Bios

Henk Rogers

JB Straubel

Lynn Jurich

Matt Moroney

Kyle Field

Paul Francis

Chelsea Harder

Griff Jurgens

Scott Cooney

The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by, and do not necessarily represent the views of CleanTechnica, its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.


Back To Top