Innovate

Kia Motors Corporation is globally active to produce Kia cars that are even more economical and cleaner in the future using environmentally friendly production methods. Below we provide different examples.

Hydrogen combustion with electrical drive

Kia has more than 20 years experience in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles. Kia was the first car manufacturer in Korea that developed electric cars and sold them on a large scale. In 1986 Kia already introduced the electrical driven Besta in Korea.

Kia fuel cell electric vehicle

The FCEV is a Kia with hydrogen combustion and an electric drive and highlights the following step of Kia’s continued commitment to the development of cleaner and greener production models for the future. The 4x4 FCEV is driven through three electric motors driven by a 100 kW fuel cell with two 76 litre fuel tanks for the storage of hydrogen.

Kia hybrid development programme

Kia Motors will be supplying 3,400 hybrid vehicles to the Ministry of Environmental Affairs in Korea the coming two years where the hybrid vehicles will be subjected to a very severe practical test. It is being viewed as one of the largest development programmes in the world for the technology of the future.

Kia Rio Hybrid

This Kia has a unique drive line that consists of a 1.4 litre petrol engine and a linked 12 kW/95 Nm AC synchronised electric motor. The Kia hybrid sedan uses a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. The principle behind this gearbox has been developed by the Dutch Van Doorne’s Transmissie (VDT) company in Tilburg. The Rio hybrid has a fuel consumption of only 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres. Should it be compared with the standard Rio with a fuel engine, emissions are reduced by 37% and fuel consumption is improved by 44%. The CO₂ emission of the Kia Rio hybrid amounts to 126 g/km.

Kia eco_cee’d – the ‘green-performance’ concept car

This eco_cee’d shows Kia’ vision for the future with regard to future car developments for the next generation of environmentally friendly and fuel efficient production models without losing track of the preferences of consumers who prefer a vehicle with a sports design and pleasurable driving performance. The new eco_cee’d has a smooth and simultaneously economic 115 bhp 1.6 litre diesel engine that meets Euro 5 standards.

Emission reducing technology

Kia Motors has developed new exhaust systems and catalytic converters to minimise air pollution by exhaust gases. The catalytic converters in petrol vehicles convert harmful gases into innocuous gases while the soot filters reduce the soot particles from exhaust gases from diesel vehicles.

Improving fuel consumption

Reducing the weight of a vehicle where the performance and safety are not compromised is a good way in which to reduce fuel consumption and the CO₂ emission. This can be achieved by using lighter materials and innovative designs. Kia Motors is currently researching the use of aluminium and magnesium. These materials are lighter than steel and can be recycled. Kia Motors also uses plasma coatings that guarantee less friction in the engine. This technology makes it possible to attain a 4% improvement in the efficiency of an engine.

Research and development centre for environmental technology

No fewer than 58 million American dollars is being invested in the new R&D centre in Seoul (Namyang Centre) to be able to develop cleaner and environmentally friendly vehicles. This investment is clear proof of Kia’s commitment to globally play a leading role in the area of environmental management. The centre has various special high-tech installations such as a 700-bar hydrogen filling station, a fuel cell tester to determine sustainability, an emission laboratory, dynamometers and other specialised equipment for testing electric drive systems.