Kia starts green market future
17 July 2009
Kia Motors has launched its first commercialised hybrid electric vehicle, the Forte Liquid Petroleum Injection Hybrid, onto the Korean market.This move represents Kia’s first step on the road to a greener future with hundreds of millions of dollars of research and development work now coming to the market. Although the UK will not get this model, British motorists will be able to choose to buy Kia hybrid vehicles under the company’s Eco-dynamics brand within three years.The Forte LPI Hybrid is the newest addition to Kia’s Forte family - known as Cerato in some markets and based on the cee’d platform - which includes both petrol-powered four-door sedan and sporty KOUP versions. Kia Motors invested KRW 240 billion - approximately USD 180 million - over a period of 25 months to develop the eco-friendly Forte LPI Hybrid. in Europe Kia are working on petrol-powered and plug-in hybrids that are likely to arrive in showrooms by 2013. Kia is also working on hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles and already has vehicles operating in the United States that are capable of starting at minus 25 degrees centigrade and delivering a range of more than 350kms on a single charge.Kia will be introducing the Eco-dynamics brand to the UK market later this year with diesel powered cee’d models featuring Intelligent Stop & Go technology from Bosch coupled to low-rolling resistance Michelin tyres that will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve fuel efficiency.Simon Hetherington, Kia Motors (UK) Limited’s Marketing Director said: “Although we are not bringing this particular hybrid to the UK we are aware of the growing demand for better sustainability in the new car market and are committed to improving the choice we offer to motorists.“The cee’d ISG models will be our first dedicated step here in the UK and Kia is committed to bringing a range of new technologies to UK consumers as soon as is viable. It will not be too long before we have hybrid vehicles but we see this as a step on the way to a fuel-cell powered future. This is the real answer to the problem of automotive pollution – even fully electric cars just push the pollution problem further up the chain to the generators. Hydrogen offers a real long-term solution to the challenge of individual mobility coupled with environmental sustainability,” he added.The Forte LPI Hybrid answers consumer demand for environmentally friendly vehicles that are exciting and fun to drive. Additionally, with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km, the Forte LPI Hybrid qualifies for billing as a Super Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV).The new car utilizes a 1.6-litre Gamma LPI engine with an independently developed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a hybrid system, comprising an electric motor, inverter, converter and 180V lithium ion polymer battery.
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