What you need to know before buying an Electric Car and the all-new Kia Soul EV 2020 test-drive at Danesfield House [press invite - review]
I took a trip to Danesfield House to test-drive the all-new Kia Soul EV - the latest electric car from Kia Motors, and the first fully electric car I’ve ever been in (minus a Hybrid Toyota Prius… I’ve obviously done thousands of trips in one of them!)
After a short press conference with Kia Motor’s UK President & CEO, Paul Philpott, we took a trip around the Marlow and Henley-on-Thames countryside to put the new Kia Soul EV through it’s paces! I had the pleasure of sharing my journey with Luxury Lifestyle journo, Simon de Burton, and Kia’s Product Specialist, James.
Kia Motors UK President & CEO, Paul Philpott, talks to a member of the press at the launch of the Kia Soul EV 2020 at Danesfield House, Henley-on-Thames
Now, I don’t know about you… But I certainly wouldn’t know where to even start, when it came to thinking about buying an electric car. I decided to ask James a few questions and find out what you need to know, when going green (read as: before switching from an ICE engine to an electric one.)
What do I need to know before buying my first electric car?
Can the age of my property’s electrics affect my decision to buy an Electric Car?
If your home’s electrics aren’t quite up to modern standards you may need to contact an electrician to make some modifications to add an electric car charging point to your home. For instance, if your home’s electrics haven’t been updated in the last 30 years, there may be an issue… If you’re thinking about buying an EV, contact a trusted local electrician, who will be able to give you a quote for installing a box that is safe and compatible with your new car.
How much will a charging package cost for my electric vehicle and where can I buy a good one - do i have to buy one from a dealership?
It’s good to buy a charger for your electric vehicle that your dealership is affiliated with. The reason for this is that there are government grants available for plug in electric vehicles which can help you save money. The dealership can also assist with the fitting of the charging box for your electric car. The cost of electric vehicle charging solutions range from £500 up to £1,500 for the top spec system. Kia charging packs retail for around the £500 mark.
Can I fit my electric car charging point at home myself?
No. Your charging point must be fitted by a professional installation company e.g. Pod Point, to ensure that it is done so safely. Pod Point will be notified by your dealership, upon purchase of your charging solution and electric car and arrange a time and date to suit you.
What is the current waiting list and installation time like to fit an electric vehicle charging solution?
Your installation company will carry out an initial survey, to ensure that the charging point can be fitted easily - and that your electrics are up to standard. From there, once they’ve booked in a date, the installation will take approximately 3-hours.
What else do you need in order to install a home charging point for your plug in electric vehicle?
If the electric vehicle charging solution is going to be fitted on your driveway, everything should be fine. No planning permission required. You need to ensure that the cables are not going to be trailing across a public right of way or causing a trip hazard.
6. If I charge my electric vehicle every night, will it have a negative impact on my car’s battery life - like it would if i left my phone on charge every night?
No, charging your vehicle every night will not affect your car battery’s ability to hold power. The difference is, your Kia Soul EV battery has a cooling system, which pumps water around the battery to cool individual sections of the battery. This means it can be plugged in all the time, and it knows when it needs a top up, and also when it’s fine. The battery can condition itself. Being plugged in doesn’t mean the electric car is getting charged, it just means it is ready to charge.
7. Is the battery of my electric car affected by extreme weather conditions?
Yes, it is. When the electric car is used in cold weather conditions, the battery will generally deplete slightly quicker, as you’re using the climate control and heating settings, to make your drive more comfortable. In the Kia Soul EV, there is actually an ECO Plus setting, for frugally-minded drivers, which turns off all heating and anything that uses additional energy. Which will save you money and battery life.
8. How do I check how much battery and driving time I have left in my electric car?
By pressing the ‘EV’ button on the Kia Soul EV dashboard, it will show you your driving range. The Kia Soul EV proudly boasts around 280* miles-worth of driving on a 100% charge! This setting will also allow you to check how much time you would need to plug in, in order to top your car’s battery up to 100% charge. By simply turning off the climate settings, pop a jumper on and then you can get approx. 6 miles more driving time. *Depending on driving conditions, circumstances and driving style).
9. If I have fully charged my electric vehicle and left it on my drive way for a while, will the battery life be drained by not driving it?
If your electric car is stationary for 4-5 months, it will only lose around 2% of a 100% charge. So there’s nothing to worry about. If your electric car battery does go flat, you can put some leads on it like a normal car and jump start the engine.
10. How long would it take me to charge my electric car using an electric charging solution at home?
The Kia Soul EV contains a 64KW battery, by plugging it in at home, you would charge the car overnight (7.5 - 13-hours) to top it up to full charge, using a 2KW socket (this is like boiling a kettle). If you’re on the go, and have access to a fast charging point, they will generally cost you a hook up fee. This is usually around £1-1.50 - before the electricity starts flowing - and is payable on top of the cost of the amount of electricity you top up.
11. I’m planning a long journey and don’t want my electric car to run out of battery. Where can I find electric charging points on my route?
There’s a great site called Zap-Map, which has information about over 15,000 electric vehicle public charging points across the UK. Download the Zap-Map app from the Apple Store to find EV charging points in the UK. Zap-Map is also available on Android’s Google Play store.
12. How much would it cost me in electric to charge my Kia Soul EV car at home?
It will cost approximately £8 in electric to charge your Kia Soul EV to 100% - 280 miles of driving. If you were to top a car of this size up with a full tank of petrol, you would expect to pay around £45 - around 300 to 400 mile range (as of 2020, depending on where in the country you are refuelling, etc)
13. How much does the all-new Kia Soul EV cost to buy in the UK?
The Soul EV ‘First-Edition’ is currently priced at £33,795 (after PiCG Deduction) and comes with:
17" Alloy Wheels (215/55R17)
10-speaker Harmon/Kardon® Premuim Sound System
10.25" Touchscreen Satellite Navigation with European Mapping
Head Up Display
Adaptive Smart Cruise Control Function (SCC)
Black Leather Upholstery*
Dual Full LED Headlamps
Engine Start/Stop Button with Smart Entry System
Wireless Mobile Phone Charger**
Lane Follow Assist (LFA)
Zero Emissions
14. How many Kia Soul EVs will be available to buy in the UK in 2020?
Lifestyle Blogger, Lucie Loves, reviews the all-new Kia Soul EV at Danesfield House, Henley-on-Thames
There will be a supply of around 2,000 Kia Soul EVs in the UK, in 2020. With more coming onto the market, as and when battery production increases.
As part of Kia’s Plan S strategy, Kia are committed to ensuring that they can offer 11 difference Electric Vehicles by 2025, to help tackle emissions, make them a greener company and push innovation as only they can.
15. Is my electric vehicle covered by my RAC or AA breakdown insurance?
Yes, RAC and AA do offer specific cover for Electric Vehicles. In fact, as there are far less moving parts in an electric car than there are in a fuel engine, there’s far less that can go wrong. There’s all the same tyres, suspension, steering and brakes, etc as a normal car - the only difference is the engine; the motor doesn’t need hardly any servicing at all! Typically, you might need to call roadside recovery for your electric vehicle, if your car battery had gone flat or you had a puncture.
16. Does an Electric Car have as much power as a petrol or diesel engine?
Yes, an electric car has absolutely as much power!! If not more! The Kia Soul EV has around 204 hp and 350 torque! So when you accelerate in this, it gives you exactly that off the mark! To put it into perspective, Simon’s old Porsche 911, delivers exactly 204 horse power… but the Kia Soul EV will get there much quicker, as it’s electric. There’s no need to gather momentum and go. You get 100% of that performance at your right foot, at any given moment.
17. How long will my electric car last before I need to replace it?
It will see out a good 10-years before it needs replacing. The batteries are very good, and are made up of several different modules and cell stacks. If the battery did start getting any degradation, you would see that in the range, as it would start to decline over time. Although, it’s unlikely. The battery pack is a large amount of the vehicle’s original value.
19. Do I need to take a special car insurance policy to cover my electric vehicle?
More and more insurers are getting used to dealing with Electric Cars. Take a look at this online guide for insuring your electric vehicle by MoneyExpert, also Zap-Map and Compare the Market.
TOP MYTHS ABOUT ELECTRIC CARS REVEALED
Can I drive my electric car in the rain? If it gets wet, will it still work?
Yes! you can! Electric Vehicles are not affected by wet weather or rain. It’s no different to any other car on the road, apart from that it has no emissions!
What happens if my electric car gets struck by lightning?
The same as any other car. It’s no different.
Is my electric car more susceptible to fire?
No. If you look at the percentage of internal combustion engines catching fire vs the electric cars, the number of electric cars is very minimal.
If I travel abroad with my UK electric car, will I need a travel adapter for my plug?
Back in the days of the G-Wiz, yes, you probably would have needed a travel adapter. James explained that he has taken several journeys abroad in an electric vehicle, and he found that the infrastructure in Europe is the same as ours. There are a decent amount of electric charging points available all over the continent. Check out Zap-Map’s route planner for more info on charging points, whether it’s currently being used by a petrol/diesel ICE car, or whether it has a particular current of charge (depending on what the max power is available in that area)
So what did we think?
Well, I must say, it’s certainly a different driving experience to the Kia Stinger… But then again, this is a very different type of car. The Kia Soul EV got a big thumbs up from Simon and I. The drive was smooth, the design and the build felt slick and robust. And the Regenerative Braking System and steering wheel paddles also added a rather fun element to the Kia Soul driving experience too! If you’re looking to be more mindful about the way and what you drive, and do your bit for the planet, Then you’re likely to be in the market for an electric vehicle. There’s nothing lack-lustre about the Kia Soul EV. It’s all fun and go go go!
I’m half-tempted to see what a road trip would be like in this car, making the most of the 280 mile range. So that I can truly review how easy it is to charge up and fit into your lifestyle. Do you own an electric car? Would you buy one? Let me know your thoughts!