The 2019 Kia Niro EV is set to land in
the United States this coming winter, according to a recent report. Although
the South Korean automaker hasn’t announced an official release date for its
all-electric crossover, a member of the Inside EVs forums discovered that Kia’s
local website has a page dedicated to the Niro EV. On the page, it is revealed
that the vehicle is expected to be available in “winter 2018 in select markets
and in limited quantities.”
It remains to be seen what markets Kia
is talking about. However, it’s reasonable to assume that the Niro EV will be
initially introduced to the CARB states throughout the U.S., including the
likes of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Pennsylvania,
Vermont, and Washington. It is also unclear just how many units will be offered
as part of the initial allocation.
In Europe, Kia says that the entry-level
Niro EV’s 39.2 kWh battery pack offers a range in excess of 240 km.
A more expensive version with a 64 kWh battery offers up to 380 km of range on a single charge. A fast-charger rated at 100 kW will be able to
charge the battery to 80 per cent capacity in 54 minutes.
Powering the Niro EV is an electric
motor delivering 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque, significantly more than the
139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque offered up by the various Niro hybrids. Pricing details and availability should
be made public in the coming months.
