Kia EV6 Introduction – CleanTechnica

In our ongoing evaluate of high electrical vehicles out there in Europe, right here’s a brief abstract of the Kia EV6 and its specs.

Intro

Lengthy, way back in a rustic far, distant, two carmakers believing in fairytales about the way forward for the automotive business (like all different carmakers have been) designed a brand new platform for his or her future fashions. It was able to a gasoline powertrain, a diesel powertrain, a lightweight hybrid powertrain, a full hybrid powertrain, a hydrogen gasoline cell powertrain, and even a plug-in battery electrical hybrid powertrain. However the fairytale didn’t finish in a fortunately ever after. The hydrogen gasoline cell electrical car (HFCEV) powertrain system was not prepared for quantity manufacturing, leaving the 2 bold carmakers with an incomplete product line.

The HFCEV was the next-generation, bright-future, zero-emissions model that ought to paved the way to the automotive world of the longer term. However the managers noticed an intermediate, non permanent answer to the unfinished powertrain downside. There was a small, restricted group of tree-hugging environmentalists that have been keen to pay by the nostril for battery electrical autos. And battery electrical autos have been additionally zero emissions — however, regretfully, with out a future. Who would purchase them? Who needs to personal a BEV?

Unusually sufficient, the electrical fashions have been shortly bought, and there was demand for extra, much more. Tree hugging gave the impression to be extra widespread than the Hyundai/Kia managers anticipated.

And so these two carmakers began to affix the quarterly pilgrimage to the battery gross sales managers of the few battery-making firms. Might they please make extra batteries? Ideally double what was initially requested? Oh, and please don’t promote your restricted provide to our competitors.

The battery makers really had the identical view of the market. It was just for a small variety of tree huggers. The battery makers didn’t care which buyer bought to the tree huggers; they promised sufficient to all of the carmakers to fulfill that small demand. The battery makers obtained overbooked, not like motels throughout spring break or airways for Christmas, however many occasions worse. The market shares of their prospects was not a part of a zero sum market.

However that’s historical past. With new factories, there are practically sufficient batteries produced. The subsequent bottleneck is lithium provide within the second half of this decade.

Beginning of the BEV

After studying that demand for BEVs was probably not restricted, and HFCEVs stayed “sooner or later for some extra years” for five years, a devoted BEV technique was developed. After growing a devoted electrical powertrain that might be utilized in current ICE fashions, a whole BEV platform was created. This Electrical International Modular Platform (E-GMP) is a toolkit like Volkswagen Group’s MEB. It’s an 800V structure that helps a wheelbase as much as 3,000 mm. Each rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are supported.

The great factor a couple of toolkit technique in comparison with a chassis platform is the benefit with which new constructing blocks will be added. It’s now used for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6, the Genesis GV60, and the Kia EV6. The Kia EV9, aimed toward the marketplace for massive SUVs within the USA, will observe this yr. The Kia EV4, an European sized cross-over, will observe after that. As will extra fashions of the opposite manufacturers of the group.

Kia EV6 on the previous Manila fortress known as Intramuros. Photograph by Raymond Tribdino.

One other view of the Kia EV6 on the previous Manila fortress known as Intramuros. Photograph by Raymond Tribdino.

Specs

From EV-Database.org:

• Battery: 54kWh–74kWh (800V structure), with about 305–410 km (190–255 miles) of vary.
• Motor: 125kW and 350Nm rear-wheel drive.
• Motor: 168kW and 350Nm rear-wheel drive.
• Motor: 175/239kW and 605Nm all-wheel drive.
• Charging: 233kW DC and 11kW AC.
• Security: Euro NCAP ***** (5-star score)
• Size * Width * Peak in mm: 4680 * 1880 * 1550
• Size * Width * Peak in mm: 184.3” * 74” * 61”

Reviewers Just like the EV6

Some reviewers contemplate the EV6 the very best or top-of-the-line BEVs in the marketplace. Calling a mannequin “the very best” says extra concerning the reviewer than the product, however it is a sign of the extent and stability of high quality, usability, inside, exterior, and value. The EV6 gives quite a bit for its value. However calling it “the very best” just isn’t mirrored within the gross sales numbers in Europe. It has finished fairly nicely, however the Skoda Enyaq with about the identical specs and value has gotten twice as many gross sales.

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