Leap frogging past their hybrid powertrain rivals, Kia are gearing up to offer their all electric e-Nero SUV to prospective Australian buyers towards the end of 2019. Revealed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the Kia e-Niro will cover 485km of freeway driving on a single charge and an impressive 615km of city driving thanks to its clever regenerative technology. In order to not waste a single electron the e-Niro alerts drivers when it’s the most efficient time to lift off the accelerator in order to coast to a stop at intersections.
There’s two versions of the e-Niro set for global release however it’s likely that Australians will have access to the more suitable long range model. The 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery can feed the 150kW electric front motor generating 395Nm of torque which results in a sprightly 0-100km/h time of 7.8 seconds. International buyers will have the choice of the lower capacity 39.2kWh model which uses its 100kW/395Nm motor to reach a maximum range of 312km.
Using a 100kW fast charger the e-Niro can be charged from 20% to 80% in 42 minutes meaning with a 1 hour break for lunch e-Niro drivers can make the trek from Melbourne to Sydney in 2 full charges. As part of the preparation for the e-Niro and further electric vehicles to come, Kia are rolling out charging stations across its dealer network.
As of yet no official pricing has been announced but a tentative sub $50,000 figure has been hinted at by Kia staff.
