As the brand prepares to kick off its low-cost EV offensive, Kia’s cheapest EV2, starting around $14,500 (20 million Won), was spotted testing in a new video. Check out the first glimpse of the Kia EV2 below.
The EV5 launched in China in November, starting at around $20,000 (149,800 yuan) as Kia looks to take on Tesla’s Model Y and low-cost Chinese EV makers like BYD.
Based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform (the same one underpinning the IONIQ 5), Kia’s EV5 is available with up to 447 miles (720 km) CLTC range. In Australia, the EV5 starts at around $46,000 (70,000 AUS).
Next in line is the Kia EV3. Kia’s EV3 inherits the tech and design from its three-row EV9 in a smaller, more affordable package.
The EV3 is expected to debut this summer, with a sporty GT line rolling out in the fall. We’ve seen EV3 prototypes out in the wild a few times now as it gets ready to show its face (see the videos here).
It’s expected to be around the size of the Volvo EX30 or Hyundai Kona EV at around 170″ long, 72″ wide, and 62″ tall. The EV3 is expected to start at around $30,000.
After that, Kia will launch the EV4. The EV4 is Kia’s take on an entry-level electric sedan with a unique design and silhouette.
Kia calls the EV4 an “entirely new type of sedan that stands as a symbol of innovation” of where the brand is headed. It will start at around $35,000.
Kia’s EV2 spotted for the first time in new testing video
Kia also revealed during its EV Day that it will launch an even smaller and cheaper EV2 electric SUV.
Speaking with Autocar, Kia’s CEO Ho-Sung Song said affordable EVs are “very important” to the brand’s future.
Kia’s CEO added that the EV2 is a “very unique and important model” in key markets like Europe. Given Kia’s preference for SUVs, the EV2 is expected to include a crossover or SUV-like design rather than a hatch.
Kia’s EV2 was spotted testing out in the wild as a new ShortsCar video gives us a better look at what we can expect from the entry-level EV.
As the EV2 drives by, you can see its boxy SUV shape, similar to the EV3 and EV5. The design is clearly part of Kia’s new theme. Despite this, the EV2 is expected to be even smaller and more affordable.
The video states the domestic compact electric SUV will be priced at $14,500 (20 million Won). If so, it could bump the Kia Ray EV out of the line-up.
Like the updated line-up of low-cost EVs, the EV2 is expected to wear Kia’s new “Opposites United” design. You can expect to see elements like Kia’s new “Tiger Face” grille.
Like the EV3, the E2 is set to receive a sporty GT version. Production is expected to begin at Kia’s Slovakia plant in 2025.
The four new models are part of Kia’s wide-ranging EV line-up priced between $20,000 and $80,000.
Kia’s EV2 spotting comes as several automakers race to introduce more affordable electric cars. Nissan plans to unveil the Micra EV as its newest low-cost EV later this year. Ford, Volkswagen, Rivian, Hyundai, and others are all planning to launch lower-cost EVs over the next few years.
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On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!
Got news? Let us know! Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!
The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
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Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
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