Kia has finally revealed its first series-production electric vehicle to be sold in the U.S., the Soul EV. Debuting at the Chicago Auto Show, the Kia Soul EV will go on sale in the third quarter of 2014, initially in states which have the largest EV markets and infrastructure: California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

Based on the current Soul, the EV retains its funky design but adds specific details such as the larger grille that accommodates charging ports, color accent trim in the front and rear fascias, projector headlights, LED positioning lamps, and LED tail lights.

All Soul EV models feature a two-tone paint, with three-color combinations offered initially: Pearl White lower body with Electronic Blue roof, Caribbean Blue lower body with Clear White roof, and Bright Silver with Clear White roof. The Kia Soul EV also gets its own set of 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped with specially engineered Super Low Rolling Resistance (SLRR) tires.

The electric Kia is motivated by an 81.4kW (109hp) electric motor producing 210 lb-ft (284 Nm) of torque. Mated to a single-speed constant-ratio gear reduction unit, the motor sends power to the front wheels and is able to accelerate the Soul EV from 0 to 60 mph (96 mph) in less than 12 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to approximately 90 mph (145 km/h).

Energy comes from a 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery located beneath the car’s floor, with Kia estimating a “real-world” driving range of approximately 80-100 miles (128-161 km) on a full charge.

The battery can be charged into any standard 120v outlet or a conventional 240v EV charger, with recharging times varying from 24 hours for a fully depleted battery using a standard 120-volt outlet and under five hours when plugged into a 240-volt outlet. When a 50kW output charger is used, the battery can be charged to 80 percent of its capacity in as little as 33 minutes.

Pricing for the Soul EV will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch.

By Dan Mihalascu

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