Kia Commits to EV Goals While Expanding Hybrid Lineup

Kia is one of the top automobile manufacturers globally, and it has been actively working towards sustainable mobility. The company has pledged to produce electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and promote a cleaner environment. Despite this, Kia is also expanding its hybrid lineup.

Lineup Gets a Boost

Kia, the South Korean automaker,  set an ambitious target of achieving a 25 percent share of its global sales from eco-friendly vehicles by 2025. Half of those sales should be solely electric vehicles. To meet this goal, the company is heavily investing in research and development of electric vehicle technology. 

One of Kia’s latest EVs is the Niro EV, a compact crossover that merges the practicality and versatility of an SUV with the efficiency of an electric powertrain. The Niro EV has a driving range of up to 239 miles on a single charge, making it one of the most practical EVs available on the market. The vehicle’s battery pack can be charged to 80 percent capacity in just 54 minutes using a DC fast charger. The Niro EV is equipped with advanced safety features, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.

In the coming years, Kia plans to launch a midsize crossover and a sedan as part of its electric vehicle lineup. With the introduction of these new EVs, the company will be using a new dedicated electric platform that will provide greater range and faster charging times. Kia is also working on developing solid-state batteries that would offer higher energy density and faster charging times than current lithium-ion batteries.

While Kia is prioritizing EVs, the company is not overlooking its hybrid lineup. In fact, Kia has been expanding its hybrid lineup to provide customers with more eco-friendly vehicle options. The latest addition to Kia’s hybrid lineup is the Sorento Hybrid, a midsize SUV that combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor. The Sorento Hybrid has a combined output of 227 horsepower and can achieve up to 37 miles per gallon on the highway, making it one of the most efficient midsize SUVs in the market.

Kia has also introduced a new plug-in hybrid version of its popular Optima sedan. The Optima Plug-in Hybrid has a driving range of up to 29 miles on electric power alone and can achieve up to 103 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). The Optima Plug-in Hybrid also comes with a suite of advanced safety features, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Kia’s efforts to promote sustainable transportation have been recognized by various organizations. The company was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by Fast Company in 2020 and received a Green Good Design award for the Niro EV from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.

Southern KIA Greenbrier

Kia is committed to achieving its goals of producing electric vehicles (EVs) while also improving its hybrid vehicle lineup. By prioritizing EVs and hybrids, Kia aims to become a pioneer in sustainable mobility and a model for other automobile manufacturers to follow. If you’re interested in seeing all that Kia is doing, visit Southern KIA Greenbrier.