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Kia Ray EV

Kia's first electric car gets 68bhp, an 86-mile range and 2,500 will be produced per year

Kia Ray EV

By Jack Rix

23rd December 2011

Kia has revealed its first electric car, the Ray EV, based closely on the petrol-powered Ray which went on sale in Korea last month. The zero-emissions city car can travel 86 miles on a single charge and takes six hours to top up the batteries from a standard socket.

Power from the 68bhp electric motor is sent to the front wheels through a single speed gearbox. Weighing 187kg more that the petrol model, but with 167Nm of torque from zero rpm, the Ray EV covers 0-62mph in 15.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 81mph.

Inside, it features a sat-nav system optimised for EVs. The seven-inch screen provides information on the location of charging stations, and a circular outline on the map showing the maximum possible range. A unique instrument cluster shows remaining range and battery status.

To warn pedestrians when it's approaching, the Ray EV is fitted with a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS). At speeds below 12mph, and when in reverse, it emits a soundtrack recorded from a petrol-powered car.

During 2012 Kia will build 2,500 Ray EVs, which will be provided to Government departments and public offices as part of a long-term research project into electric cars. There are no current plans to bring the boxy EV to the UK, although the lessons learned here will influence all of Kia's future electric vehicles.

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5 Comments

OMG

This is the type of crap that gives ev's a bad name!

This is one ev we won't see on our roads, thank god!

Apart from the god awful ugliness it's powerless.

Why only 68hp? Why keep with traditional petrol power ranges, with petrol you have to sacrifice power for economy, so why when electricity is so cheap for transport offer such poor power output?

0-60 in 16 seconds!!! Lmao I'd rather cycle!

By Mad_Lad on 26 December, 2011, 5:16pm

Toy town

No no no no no.
Not even the greenest, tree hugging limp wristed doofus would buy this.
86 miles on a single charge?
Wait untill it rains, the windscreen wipers on, the heater and headlights on, demisters blowing! LMFAO

By noknok1 on 26 December, 2011, 8:54pm

what a blasted ugly piece of junk. whoever designed this should be shot!

By hotredman on 26 December, 2011, 9:17pm

Oh dear Kia

It looks like Postman Pats van, who in there right mind would buy this.. and once again the interior looks like its been designed by a 6 year old.
If it does see the light of day, least it will give us something to point and laugh at.

By balcstar on 27 December, 2011, 12:03pm

A soundtrack ? Lmao

I would laugh my ass off at any ev with ice noises coming from speakers. If this is ever made public, I'm going to beat the crap out of one,just for being so ugly lol

Ev's are quiet and we should be thankful for some quietness on our streets, if people were made to take headphones out of their ears then pedestrians would be a lot safer, some common sense like look before you walk, and no disrespect to blind people but I'm sure they are intelligent enough and are far better at getting their way around safely without all this nonsense!!!

How about stopping drivers of ice cars speeding through towns and villages???

By Mad_Lad on 27 December, 2011, 5:15pm

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Kia Ray EV
Kia Ray EV
Kia Ray EV

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