Go EcoDynamics! – The Ray EV – Part 2 of 3

Kiaclub Nieuwsrobot · May 29, 2013

EVs run solely on electric energy supplied by a high-voltage battery. It takes around six hours to charge the battery at a general charging station and 25 minutes at a high-speed charging station. As they run only on electric power, EVs are zero-emission vehicles. However, given that most electric power is currently generated through fossil fuel-based systems, EVs are responsible for indirect CO2 emissions. Other drawbacks include the lack of charging stations and the charging time, which is longer than what it takes to refuel internal combustion engine vehicles.

Kia has 20 years of history developing eco-friendly autos? Kia was Korea’s first automobile manufacturer to develop and mass market electric vehicles with the introduction of the Besta in 1986.

Ray EV

We didn’t stop at the Besta, in fact our Sportage EV followed its release in 1999. Kia Motors has thus spent over 20 years researching and developing EVs and EV batteries. Drawing on this accumulated knowledge and know-how,we launched the Ray Electric Vehicle (EV) in2011.

The Ray EV is a multi-purpose compact CUV well-suited for urban driving and cargo transport. It comes with a built-in GPS navigation system that indicates nearby charging stations and the remaining distance the vehicle can cover as well as the status of energy flow and usage. The Ray EV features wheels with low rolling resistance tires that minimize air resistance. A sophisticated safety system lowers the risks posed by high-voltage components. By producing all the key parts in Korea, Kia Motors has laid the basis for the advancement of homegrown EV technologies.

Kia Motors is working with government ministries and agencies to expand opportunities for the public to experience the Ray EV. With the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, we joined a pilot program run by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation in August 2012 through which we provided a fleet of 20 Ray EVs for free public trial rentals. 86% of users said they were satisfied with the Ray EV’s quiet driving experience, driving performance, and eco-friendliness. Since February 2013, we have been part of Seoul City’s Car-sharing Service program. Car-sharing is an effort to move away from the existing paradigm of private full-time car ownership to communal as needed usage. Service users can rent a car at a charging station nearby and then return the car to the station they designate at pickup. The Car-sharing Service is currently being operated as a pilot program at eight charging stations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

The Ray EV was named Top 10 Technology of Excellence in the green energy segment at the Top 10 Green Awards co-hosted by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in June 2012. It also received the Green Innovation Award (Environmental Minister’s Award) in January 2013 at The Asia Economy Daily’s 3rd Green Car Awards. We are operating a pilot fleet of 2,500 Ray EVs to test performance and lay the groundwork for an EV market with the goal of mass-producing a compact EV model for the general public by 2014.