Kia is debuting its first all-electric plug-in concept car – based on the just-arrived Venga – at the Geneva Motor Show this morning.
The Venga EV concept car is identical to the regular Venga B-segment MPV but features an electric motor producing 80 kW and maximum torque of 280 Nm. Venga EV is capable of accelerating from standstill to 62mph in 11.8 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 87 mph.
Venga EV uses a twin-pack 24 kWh battery using innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology that provides a driving range of 112 miles on a single charge. Under the quick recharging cycle (50 kW) the battery can be recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity within 20 minutes. Under the normal cycle (3.3 kW), 100 per cent power is attained after eight hours. The Venga EV has a front-wheel drive with the electric powertrain placed within the existing engine bay, while its battery pack is located under the boot floor.
The Korean carmaker is known for its development of hybrid and fuel cell concepts, but the Venga EV is the first time the carmaker has produced an all-electric car. As part of its drive towards producing more green cars, the brand also has on display at the Swiss show its cleanest yet version of the diesel-powered cee’d ecodynamics. The new cee’d model achieves a significant 11 per cent reduction in emissions – down to just 98 g/km, compared with 110 g/km for the current cleanest cee’d. The new five-door hatchback is powered by Kia’s new ‘U2’ family 1.6-litre diesel engine, designed and engineered at Kia’s R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany and manufactured in Slovakia. The new cee’d makes use of Kia’s fuel-stretching Intelligent Stop and Go system and Eco Driving Guide – a gear-shift up/down indicator – is displayed in the cabin. No on sale date has yet been confirmed for the cee’d.
The Korean carmaker- part of the Hyundai-Kia group-announced a near £2 billion of investment (4 trillion Korean Won) in ‘green growth’ last year, designed to propel the group forward to become one of the world’s top four manufacturers of low emission vehicles by 2012.
