The process of electrification experienced by the automobile industry has inexorably marked the agendas of each of its members. An evolution towards electric propulsion that some manufacturers started many years ago, such as Kia.
In particular, 11 years have passed since the Korean company launched the Optima hybrid, a first model that will launch a range of models with different electric power technologies that currently account for 60% of sales. of the company.
This great prominence also extends to the worldwide electrified segment where Kia is the second brand with the highest number of registrations in our country, with a market share of 10%.
Four electrical technologies
Kia’s electrified offering has 11 models and 18 variants with light hybrid, pure hybrid, plug-in hybrid and 100% electric engines, to be one of the broadest catalogs available among general manufacturers.
The first step was taken with his proposal for MHEV light hybridization thrusters. That is, those that combine gasoline combustion engines (and in the case of Kia also diesel), with a second 48V electric unit and a small battery that, together, allows you to save a little on consumption and emissions, as well as offering less. more power on some occasions. These MHEVs are available in the Rio, Ceed, ProCeed and Ceed Tourer, Stonic and Sportage ranges.
Hybrid universe
Kia is putting models in the second phase of electrification in its catalog full hybrid. On this occasion, and always with gasoline engines as the main actors, higher power electric drives are used that allow more combined use. The results are a dramatic reduction in consumption and emissions. Kia’s hybrid proposals are focused on the Niro with 141 HP of power, and on the Sorento and Sportage, both with 230 HP. Like MHEVsmild hybrid, They have the “Eco” label from DGT.
With plug-in hybrids, Kia has taken a step towards “true” electric mobility. An option available with powers of 186 HP in the Niro, 141 HP in the Xceed and Ceed Tourer, and the most powerful 265 HP used in the Sportage and Sorento SUVs, all of them able to drive in 100% electric mode with Their range is about 70 km in the city in the case of passenger cars, and about 60 km in off-road vehicles.
At the top of Kia’s offer are 100% electric models. A pioneering range that started on the market in 2012 with the e-Soul, and will have 15 fully electric models by 2027.
