What is it?
Electric cars may seem to dominate the mainstream media motoring coverage, but there really are not that many pure EVs you can buy yet in the UK, and even fewer with a ‘big’ range.
So the Kia e-Niro arrives at quite the opportune time, with electric cars – and the charging network to support them – gaining momentum with acceptance and awareness among the wider buying public beyond early adopters.
The Niro is a couple of years old now and launched as Kia’s dedicated eco-friendly model, promising hybrid, plug-in hybrid and, in time, all-electric drivetrains within the same range, and now the time has come for that electric version.
You’ll spot more than one or two similarities between the e-Niro and the Kona Electric from sister brand Hyundai. The drivetrain is common between the pair, consisting of an electric motor powered by a 64kWh lithium ion polymer battery.
While the Kona Electric offers a smaller battery, as does the e-Niro in Korea and in other markets, in the UK the e-Niro is set to be offered with just the larger battery, and a price that aims to come in below £30,000 when it launches early next year.
And that all-important range figure? Kia quoted 301 miles in its presentation, a very impressive figure.
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Motorway Range
I work away from home during the week so have a Monday and Friday drive of 252 miles each (245 miles of which is motorway/dual carriageway). Trundling along at 70mph in my C class Merc i get a decent 65mpg, but its due for replacement soon and i would seriously consider a sensibly priced EV (to reduce BIK tax and fuel bill) if i could guarentee arriving at my destination without having to stop and charge mid journey. (I will have full access to 13 amp sockets at both ends of my journey). Does anyone know how the 301 mile range will stand up after 3 years of charge/discharge on a freezing morning with lights/wipers/heater all in use during that motorway slog? (I worry that my scheduled car replacement may be just a year or so too soon versus technological progress with Li batteries).
291lb ft at 4000rpm ? what?
291lb ft at 4000rpm ? what?
has the reviewer actually driven an electric car?
220 bhp
291lb ft at 4000rpm produces about 220bhp, so this number is bit off since the advertised peak power is 201bhp.
Some vital information is missing here. Firstly, the peak torque is available from 0 rpm onwards.
Secondly, since that torque at that rpm would generate more than 201bhp, maybe this is the peak torque during "overboost", or something else, I don't know, I'm just guessing here...