KIA EV Soul Targets Fast-Charging 'Animals'

ABB's Terra 53 charger wrapped in Greenlots' SKY network, charging the new Soul EV, based on Kia's best selling Soul model.

As electric vehicles appears on more roads and drivers put more miles on these cars, the need for more DC fast-charging stations emerges pretty clearly. Today, KIA Motors announces a new program to install ABB's Terra 53 50kW fast-charging stations in its dealerships across the country as the company's new EV Soul start appearing in dealerships across the U.S. The dealer fast charging stations will appear first on the west coast in the "first wave."

Kia's electric vehicles use a CHAdeMO connector interface and is capable of charging the EV Soul—deliveries begin in the U.S this month—vehicle in 15 to 30 minutes.

According to the press release, KIA Soul electric vehicle owners will be provided an RFID card, giving them access to the DC fast chargers via Greenlots SKY network system. Drivers will be able to easily find these charging stations via Kia's smartphone app or the touchscreen inside the vehicle.

Other public, DC fast-charging stations have different connector standards, such as the SAE combo and Tesla Motor's fast-charging network--thought open patents. In short, it's a bit of a mess especially since I come from the hightly standardized area of automation in manufacturing. KIA did not mention whether it has connector adapters for those other DC fast charging interfaces and it seems automakers are highly motivated to providing adapters. 

The KIA EV Soul model, to me, might resonate more with female car buyers and will be interested to watch how this model is marketed—or if it will be advertised. Above is a commercial for the EV Soul, leveraging the company's dancing hamsters.

"The Soul EV is a key vehicle within Kia's 'Clean Mobility' program, and having access to Level 2 and DC fast chargers at our select dealerships is an additional opportunity for Kia to provide value to Soul EV owners in comfortable, premiere locations," said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning at Kia Motors America.

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