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The Kia Eco Range
Kia Eco cars use electric power or a combination of electric and petrol power to drive the engine. This makes them more economical to run with lower emissions than a traditional petrol driven car.
So, whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, or simply wish to lower the cost of running your car, there are plenty of reasons to go Eco and making the switch is much simpler than you might think.
Reasons to drive an Electric or Hybrid car
The Eco-nomical choice
Because Hybrid cars use an electric motor as an additional source of power to support the combustion less fuel is used, which in turn cuts down your running costs.
Tax incentives
There’s a £3000 Plug-in car grant available, plus, for company car drivers, battery-electric cars are subject to a lower company car BIK tax, which for battery-electric cars registered after the 6th April 2020 is 0%. This increases to 1% in 2021/22 and to 2% in 2022/23. All hybrid powertrains also benefit from lower BIK tax rates and still have the potential to save you thousands of pounds compared to a traditional petrol or diesel equivalent.
Relaxing Drive
Electric cars are incredibly quiet, making for a more relaxing atmosphere. Driving is easy too, because electric motors produce maximum torque at all revs, so acceleration is instant. While all Hybrids handle just as smoothly as conventional cars, with the added bonus that they are extremely quiet in electric mode. And the shift between the two powertrains is so seamless that it is practically inaudible.
Better for the environment
There are no exhaust emissions from the tailpipe of an electric vehicle – in fact, it doesn’t even have a tailpipe – this is particularly helpful for improving air quality in urban areas. Hybrid cars, in general, also emit less pollution than standard vehicles. For example, in traffic or at a red light the engine automatically switches off and uses the electric motor to restart or reboot the engine.
Hybrid or Electric?
Kia Eco cars are available in electric and hybrid. Our Electric cars use a battery to drive a powerful electric motor, while our Hybrids use a combination of electric motor and conventional engine.
What is a Mild Hybrid car?
Mild Hybrids use a small battery and a clever motor / generator to save fuel and lower emissions. This helps lower your costs without changing how you use your car.
What is a Hybrid or Self-Charging Hybrid car?
Switching between petrol and electric automatically to optimise driving performance, improved fuel economy and lower emissions, simply get in and the car generates power as you drive. No plugging in required.
What is a Plug-In Hybrid car?
A plug-in hybrid gets all the benefits of a self-charging hybrid, but it has a larger battery. This means you can plug it in at home or at a public chargepoint to give you a 30-mile electric range. When that electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to self-charging hybrid mode.
How do Electric cars work?
An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. This makes them more economical and with no emissions, better for the environment. And instead of refuelling you simply recharge at home, or at one of the many public charge points.
There are substantial benefits to owning an electric car. Here are our top four.
Cheap to run
Because electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, your journey could cost less than a third of what it would in a combustion - engine car. Battery-electric vehicles can also travel for free in the UK’s new Clean Air Zones and London’s Congestion Zone.
There are tax incentives too. A £1,500 plug-in car grant, while company car drivers are subject to lower company car BIK tax. Which for battery-electric cars registered after the 6th April 2020 is 0%, increasing to 1% in 2021/22 and to 2% in 2022/23
Zero Emissions
An electric vehicle doesn’t have a tailpipe, which means no exhaust emissions. This helps improve air quality, particularly in urban areas.
Charge at home
Imagine waking up every day with a ‘full tank’. Just plug in when you get home, and your car takes care of the rest. You can also get a £350 grant to help you pay for the home charger, too.
Relaxing Drive
Electric cars are incredibly quiet, making for a more relaxing atmosphere. Driving is easy too, because electric motors produce maximum torque at all revs. That simply means you get maximum power without having rev through the gears, so acceleration is instant.
