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The electric vehicle (EV) market is picking up the pace as more and more automakers are launching electric cars to challenge Tesla; the early entrant in the EV market. Until now, automakers had been producing small electric cars. However, a number of carmakers have revealed their plans to launch electric SUV’s that will take on Tesla’s Model X.
Recently, Kia showcased its conceptualized battery-powered SUV at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show. The SUV will be a fully electric version of Niro, a hybrid plug-in SUV, that has proved a worthy alternative to vehicles like Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq. The Kia Niro Electric will be first launched in Korea and then it will be subsequently launched in Europe and North America. The SUV will also be showcased at the 2018 Paris Auto Show.
Battery Options
Customers of Kia Niro Electric will have the option of selecting either an 84-kWh battery version or a 32-kWh battery version. The 84-kWh battery provides a 380 km range while the 32-kWh battery offers a 240 km range. The smaller battery range proves to be an affordable version that will appeal to the price-sensitive segment. This means that the Kia Niro Electric will be appealing to a broader range of customers.
Considering the latest developments in battery technology, the Kia Niro Electric will be tentatively a lithium polymer unit that has proved to deliver more power per kg as compared to the conventional lithium-ion batteries. The Korean carmaker relies on the lithium polymer battery to power Kia Soul Electric.
Style
The recently released photos of the Kia Niro Electric reveal that the SUV has adopted the front fascia style of Tesla’s electric vehicles. The body has been jointly designed by California-based Kia design studio and Korea-based principal design studio. The design team hasn’t given much consideration to exterior styling elements like grille because it is the vehicle’s battery technology and affordability that will prove its key selling point.
Kia hasn’t revealed the pricing details of the Niro Electric and it can be estimated that the electric SUV will be more affordable than the Model X. The stage is all set for the Kia Niro Electric and it remains to be seen whether it manages to prove a worthy competitor. Will it be able to win the mass-market? Please share your thoughts by posting comments in the box below.
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