Kia's Electric Compact Gets Boost from Norway

After a bad patch for Kia some good news has at last come from an unlikely quarter as Norway named the Soul electric vehicle 2015 Car of the Year.

The Soul beat formidable rivals like the Audi A3 hybrid and Volkswagen Passat.

Dinside, the eco-conscious Nordic nation's biggest consumer information provider, awarded the title to the Soul EV for its excellent range, sleek design and efficient internal space management.

The Soul EV has been tested under European guidelines to travel 212 km on a single charge.

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BMW i3 Voted Most Preferred Electric Car in Seoul

The BMW i3

The BMW i3 is the most preferred electric car in a new program implemented by the Seoul city government.

The city government said on Wednesday that the German car has been chosen by 297 out of 617 applicants for the program where it will offer a subsidy of W20 million (US$1=W1,107) per car for up to 182 electric cars.

Kia's Soul EV received 161 applicants and the SM3 ZE 81.

The i3 retails for between W57.5 million and W63.4 million, up to W28 million more than domestic electric cars.

The i3, which is BMW's first electric vehicle, boasts cutting-edge technology with its bodywork made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which is lighter than steel. The interior features recyclable materials such as pure wool cloth and eucalyptus wood.

"The i3 is so popular in foreign markets that it is in short supply. Consumers who are relatively well-off buy the car," a BMW staffer said.

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