Kia’s Ray EV racks up 6,000 pre-orders in Korea, starting at $20,400
Kia launched its new entry-level urban EV on Thursday. As its cheapest electric model, the Kia Ray EV racked up 6,000 pre-orders in Korea with a starting price of around $20,400 (27.35 million won).
As demand for affordable all-electric options continues climbing, Kia is bringing back the Ray EV.
The Ray EV was Kia’s (and Korea’s) first 100% electric production car, introduced in 2011. As a close relative to the gas-powered Ray CUV, the model “marked a new era in Korean motoring.”
However, the mini electric car was discontinued in 2018 amid the nation’s lack of charging infrastructure and the vehicle’s limited range (86 mi / 139 km).
Electrek first heard Kia was planning to revive the Ray EV after an official told the Korean Economic Daily the new model “is the best choice for customers waiting for an entry electric minicar.”
Kia Ray EV pre-orders exceed 2023 target
Pre-orders for the new Ray EV began on August 24, and today, Kia revealed it has gathered over 6,000 interested customers.
Kia says the number already exceeds its target of 4,000 for the entire year by 50%. Powered by a 35.2 kWh LFP battery and improved aerodynamics, the new Ray EV achieves up to 127 miles (205 km) of range. When traveling in the city, the figure bumps up to 144 miles (233 km).
Although it may not seem like a lot compared to new EVs in the US, the Ray EV is designed for city travel. It takes around 40 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% with a 150 kW fast charger.
The Ray EV’s electric motor has a maximum output of 64.3 kW (86 hp) and 147 N m of maximum torque. Again, it may seem tiny in the US, but those numbers are 15% and 55% higher than the ICE version, respectively.
Inside, all seats can be folded flat, creating a spacious open-air environment. A dedicated “utility mode” enables electric devices, like air conditioning and audio, to be used while not driving for extended periods. The feature can be used for work, camping, resting, and more.
The new Kia Ray EV starts at 27.35 million won ($20,400) for the 1-seater variant. Other options include:
| Kia Ray EV trim | Cost | USD |
| 4-seater | Light: 27.75 million won Air: 29.55 million won |
$20,700 $22,000 |
| 2-seater | Light: 27.45 million won Air: 27.95 million won |
$20,500 $20,850 |
| 1-seater | Light: 27.35 million won Air: 27.80 million won |
$20,400 $20,700 |
The launch comes as automakers and startups are releasing cheaper electric models to grab market share.
With around 80% of the auto market in Korea, the Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia and Genesis, looks to protect its share from incoming competitors like cheaper EVs from China.
Nissan’s Sakura electric mini car looks like a “game changer” for the Japanese market, starting at 2,333,100 yen ($16,000). Nissan announced at the end of July that Sakura gathered over 50,000 pre-orders.
Industry sources predict the new Ray EV will help boost South Korea’s minicar segment, forecasting it will be a top-ten best-selling car.
Kia is expanding its lineup with plans to offer an EV in every segment, including the Niro EV, EV6, EV9, EV5, and expected EV4.
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On today’s incredibly frustrating episode of Quick Charge, Tesla is making it easier than ever to make fun of them by rolling out a new, “affordable” Model Y that costs $2,000 more than the “expensive” one did last week, thanks to the cancellation of the $7,500 tax credit that Elon Musk (the guy who is so good at business that he’s allegedly worth $1 trillion) spent $200 million campaigning for.
We’ve also got the new, single-motor Volvo EX30 at a price that undercuts the cheap Tesla, but includes a full length glass roof that isn’t inexplicably covered in upholstery to punish poor people. All this and more – enjoy!
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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Chevy’s electric SUV is now the best-selling EV in the US outside of Tesla. The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, but GM has added new style packages for you to choose from.
GM raises 2026 Chevy Equinox EV price, adds options
The Chevy Equinox EV doesn’t need much help. Starting at just $34,995, the 2025 Chevy Equinox quickly became one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US.
Entering its third year, the Equinox EV remains GM’s most affordable EV, with starting prices slightly higher at $36,495. That includes the $1,395 destination fee.
Since it’s a carryover model, there aren’t too many changes, but buyers will have several new style packages to choose from.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox LT gains a new Midnight Package, which adds black emblems, bowtie, badging, wheel caps, and 19″ black painted aluminum wheels, for $595.
There’s also a new Tech Bronze Package available on the LT and RS trims. The new option includes a Tech Bronze decal, a black nameplate, a black bowtie emblem, and 21″ Tech Bronze wheels. It costs an extra $3,595.
The 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is now listed on GM’s website. It’s still available in LT1, LT2, and RS trims with Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) powertrain options.
The base 2026 LT FWD trim starts at $36,495 with up to 319 miles of range, including a $1,395 destination fee. Upgrading to AWD costs an extra $5,300, with a slightly shorter range of 307 miles.
| Chevy Equinox EV trim | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price | EPA-estimated Range |
| LT 1 FWD | $34,995 | $36,495 | 319 miles |
| LT 1 AWD | $38,295 | $39,795 | 307 miles |
| LT 2 FWD | $43,295 | $43,295 | 319 miles |
| LT 2 AWD | $46,595 | $46,595 | 307 miles |
| RS FWD | $44,795 | $45,595 | 319 miles |
| RS AWD | $48,095 | $48,895 | 307 miles |
Following another record quarter of EV sales in Q3, GM said that the Chevy Equinox EV was the best-selling non-Tesla electric vehicle in the US.
With several new affordable EVs arriving, including the new Nissan LEAF, will the Equinox continue to be a top seller in 2026? It will be interesting to see where the rankings end up at this time next year.
Wondering if Chevy’s electric SUV lives up to the hype? You can use our link to find 2025 and 2026 Chevy Equinox EV models near you and try it out for yourself.
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A surge in EV charging cable thefts is putting the reliability of the UK’s charging network at risk and undermining trust among drivers. InstaVolt is the UK’s largest network of fast chargers, and over the past two years, nearly 1,000 of its charging stations (it has over 2,100, so nearly 50%) have been targeted by cable thieves. But now InstaVolt is fighting back with GPS tracking.
Bafflingly, the incentive for thieves is low-value scrap: There’s only about £25 ($33) worth of copper inside a charging cable. But the damage is costly – around £1,000 ($1,342) per site for repairs.
In April, InstaVolt CEO Delvin Lane told the BBC that the thefts had cost his company about £410,000 ($550,150) since November 2023. Lane said, “This isn’t just an InstaVolt problem; this is an industry problem. The biggest impact is on drivers.”
InstaVolt has reinforced its cables with Kevlar sheaths, making them harder to cut. It has also rolled out live GPS tracking across its network on its charging cables in partnership with GPS supplier Trackit247. The technology provides location updates every three seconds, allowing the company to detect, trace, and recover stolen cables in real time.
Each charging cable is geo-fenced to its charger, so an alert is immediately triggered if it moves outside the designated area. InstaVolt’s 24/7 security center receives instant notifications by text, email, and phone, and it can coordinate directly with the police.
The system’s biggest advantage is live tracking in transit. If a thief drives off with a charging cable, police can follow its exact route and move in fast, increasing the chance of recovery and arrest. Instavolt’s GPS technology marks a major step forward in protecting critical EV infrastructure, deterring theft, and enabling quick response when it happens.
Read more: Meet the UK’s largest solar + storage EV charging ‘Superhub’
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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