Tag Archives: PHEV

Miami Lakes Automall Benefits Driving Electric

The Benefits of Driving an Electric Vehicle

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Posted in Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia Dealers in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Automall Benefits Driving Electric

With the impressive range of the Kia Niro EV, 280 miles, and other electric vehicles by Kia Motors, like the 2018 Kia Soul EV, we thought we’d brush up on electric vehicles 101 and drop some knowledge. We’ve covered electric vehicle charging and the misconceptions about plug-in hybrid vehicles before. But with many people in North America still unsure how hybrid and electric technology works, it might be a good time to inform the masses about all the benefits an electric vehicle can bring. Here are five things to know about electric cars.

The Drive

Driving an electric car will feel a lot more differently than a vehicle powered by the standard internal combustion engine. Not only is an electric vehicle (EV) more silent, although some automakers install a program to mimic an engine noise for consumers who prefer to hear the motor running, but the pull of a gas-powered vehicle when the engine gets going is nearly non-existent. Electric vehicles don’t need to “power up” to get going – all the power they need is already available.

How to drive EVs are also changing the game. With the way technology is moving, one-pedal powertrains are becoming commonplace. A one-pedal powertrain means the cockpit only comes with one pedal and an emergency brake pedal. To accelerate or to decelerate, the driver puts pressure on or alleviates pressure from the accelerator like usual, but when decelerating with a one-pedal powertrain, the car will be brought to a stop naturally. The emergency brake pedal is available for instances where the driver needs to stop immediately. Plus, many alternative fuel vehicles come with regenerative braking to recharge the battery when bringing the vehicle to a stop.

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Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV Range

Kia Niro EV Gets 280 Miles

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Posted in Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV Range

News about Kia Motors new electric vehicle, the Kia Niro EV, keeps popping up as we get closer to its release date. What was first unveiled as a concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas quickly took off as a new production vehicle for Kia Motors to expand their alternative fuel vehicle lineup. First, the 2018 Kia Niro hybrid crossover came out in early-mid 2017, followed by the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) at the very end of 2017, and now Kia is taking this crossover and going all electric – it could even be great competition for Tesla in the all-electric crossover market today.

We’ll see more of 2018 Kia Niro EV at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in September, but here’s what we know so far. The original concept of the Kia Niro EV was sporting a unique front bumper, an exclusive radiator grille, futuristic sporty air intake, arrowhead-shaped LED daytime running lights, and flush-mounted grille and subtle geometric pattern that houses the vehicle’s electric charging port. With Kia Motors working on wireless electric vehicle charging, they may not even need a port soon enough, but that technology is a little ways off at the moment. The rest of the concept design took a bit of a slim approach with a sleek profile, but also gives the EV an aggressive look to it.

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Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV Interior

Take a Peek at the Kia Niro EV Interior

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV Interior

When the electric vehicle variation of the Kia Niro debuted at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), there was a lot of interesting information to learn. Kia Motors just keeps pushing the envelope when it comes to their alternative fuel vehicle lineup, continuously expanding it whenever they have a winner on their hands. We can’t complain – honestly, it feels good to go green, and if we can drive a fancy car and help the environment, then why not? During the initial debut, the Kia Niro EV was just a concept, and much of the interior was like a cardboard cut-out. Recently, a more fine-tuned prototype of the Kia Niro EV was revealed in Busan, South Korea, and a savvy commentator, Jose Guerrero, took the chance to make a video and upload it for everyone to enjoy. Thanks, Jose!

Recap of the Powertrain Details

During the initial debut of the Kia Niro EV concept, the powerain details were pretty hush-hush at the 2018 CES in Las Vegas. Kia called it a “next-generation electric powertrain [with] new production technologies earmarked for near-future EVs from Kia [with a 64 kWh battery] paired to a powerful 150-kilowatt ([200-horsepower]) electric motor.” With an entirely new 64-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a rated 238 miles of range, that’s not too bad for an all-electric vehicle. That’s the same range for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

So the Kia Niro EV concept is said to share the longest-range of an affordable electric car with the Chevy Bolt EV. The concept had some style changes, doing away with the tiger-nose grille, and replacing it with a pair of very thin lamps and a smooth, front bumper with a recharging outlet on the driver’s side of the front fascia. Kia said the interior would have a “”pure, minimalist, and digital [approach to provide] an innate sense of space and calm [while inside the car].”

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Miami Lakes Automall Kia Sportage Mild-hybrid Diesel Powertrain

Kia Motors’ New Diesel Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealers in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Automall Kia Sportage Mild-hybrid Diesel Powertrain

Kia Motors is really killing the alternative fuel vehicle scene. Nearly every time they make it big with a vehicle from their lineup, they turn it into a hybrid, then a plug-in, and if they’re really looking to push the envelope, then an electric vehicle. They followed that pattern with the Kia Niro, currently in production for an all-electric variant, the Kia Niro EV. To follow up, Kia is looking into other forms of fuel, and with the Fiat Chrysler Automobile Group (FCA) having recently designed and produced the eTorque system, Kia Motors will not be outdone. Hence, they’re about to launch their own mild-hybrid powertrain in 2018.

eTorque

The eTorque system is a new mid-hybrid system from the FCA that is currently placed in the new 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL and the 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck. The eTorque system is called a “mid-hybrid” system because it offers hybrid capabilities, such as auto stop/start, electric power assist, extended fuel shut-off, transmission shift management, intelligent battery charging, and regenerative braking. Like all hybrid systems, it also has an electric feature to it that can replace various car components.

When it comes to the 2019 Ram 1500, the eTorque system is able to deliver its own electricity to the truck, nullifying the need for an alternator, and is able to keep the Ram 1500’s original 12-volt battery charged as well as perform its hybrid functions. In addition, the eTorque system is actually a 48-volt system that can convert 12 volts into 48 without a prolific sweat. Kia Motors seems to be aiming for something similar if not the same.

Kia Motors Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

The full name for this new mild-hybrid powertrain from Kia Motors is actually “diesel 48v mild-hybrid powertrain.” Can you already see the similarities? This year, 2018, Kia Motors will be introducing its first 48V diesel mild-hybrid powertrain, called a new ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain that will reduce CO2 emissions by supplementing acceleration with electric power from an additional 48-volt battery and extending combustion engine ‘off time’ using a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator unit. Yep, lots of similarities there, but we won’t fault Kia for getting in on the ground floor with what can easily become a revolutionary component for vehicles in the next few years (or decades, it’s anyone’s guess).

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Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV

News About the Kia Niro Electric Vehicle

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia dealer Miami, Kia Dealers in Miami, Kia dealers Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Kia in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer

Miami Lakes Automall Kia Niro EV

First, the 2018 Kia Niro came out early-mid 2017. It was a bit of a showstopper, being the world’s first hybrid crossover. As Kia Motors usually does, if one of their vehicles does well, they tend to expand upon it with different powertrain options. With the Kia Niro already being a hybrid, the next logical step was to make a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and voila! End of 2017, we got the Kia Niro PHEV. Now, an interesting turn of events, Kia Motors is finally adding another electric vehicle to their lineup. That’s right – the Kia Niro is getting its very own electric vehicle (EV) variant.

Details are still a bit dry, but here’s what we know so far. Kia Motors unveiled their all-electric version of Niro at the 5th International Electric Vehicle Expo in Jeju, Korea. The vehicle should appear again at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in September, so it’s safe to say the production of the vehicle is still a little ways away, but one can never be sure with how quickly Kia has been evolving as of late. The previous showing in Korea isn’t all that new though.

The Kia Niro EV was originally unveiled as a concept at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Oddly enough, although an all-electric vehicle, the concept featured a unique front bumper, an exclusive radiator grille, futuristic sporty air intake, and arrowhead-shaped LED daytime running lights. Housed within the flush-mounted grille and subtle geometric pattern is the vehicle’s electric charging port.

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Miami Lakes Kia Mitusibhsi Plug-in Hybrids

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) from Mitsubishi Motors and Kia Motors

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Kia Mitusibhsi Plug-in Hybrids

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, also known as plug-in hybrids and PHEVs, are making a lot of headway in the auto industry. Two automakers found here at Miami Lakes Automall, Kia Motors and Mitsubishi Motors, are really getting into the plug-in hybrid segment. With both automakers making alternative fuel vehicles, especially Kia, and new models planned for the future (hybrid SUVs by Mitsubishi Motors and the Kia Telluride), we thought we’d take a look at all the two offer. Prior to 2018, Kia Motors only had one plug-in hybrid – the Optima PHEV. Now that the Kia Niro PHEV is a out, a plug-in hybrid crossover, let’s compare both plug-ins with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

We already covered the Kia Niro PHEV and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, so feel free to review it for a bite-size version of all we will be covering here.

Powertrains

All three vehicles being covered today have a plug-in hybrid system running the unit. Kia Motors has a name for its hybrid system, called a “Full Parallel Hybrid System” with the gasoline engine size as its prefix. For example, all 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrids are run by a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine and Full Parallel Hybrid System. One part of the powertrain is a 1.6-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine, optimized via dual continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and gasoline direct injection (GDI). The 1.6L engine generates 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque. The other part of the powertrain is an AC synchronous permanent magnet motor that generates 60 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque, powered by an 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. When both parts of the powertrain work together, they can generate up to 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

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Miami Lakes Kia Niro PHEV First Hybrid

Kia Niro PHEV is a Great First-Time Alternative Fuel Vehicle

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealer in Miami, Kia Dealers, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Kia in Miami, Miami Kia, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Kia Niro PHEV First Hybrid

Thinking of going green, but not sure how you feel about losing the ease of a normal vehicle with an internal combustion engine? Vehicles powered by gasoline have been around since the automotive industry began – it’s the kind of vehicle we know and we’re used to. So when it comes to going green, some consumers are a little shocked with the changes that come along with driving an alternative fuel vehicle. A typical hybrid may be a good transition, but it doesn’t do much for the environment. Plus, if going green, why not get some additional benefits than a pat on the shoulder? Check out the new Kia Niro PHEV if you are ready to take the plunge.

Charging

Because alternative fuel vehicles are still somewhat new to the general public, many people don’t understand hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles all that much. Plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle recharging are actually pretty easy to understand. Just like plugging in an appliance, the majority of the work is plugging in one’s car and navigating a menu to turn on the charger – not much different from pumping gas at the fuel station. Plus, in Miami, Florida, charging stations are popping up plenty.

When it comes to charging up the Kia Niro PHEV, consumers can install a 240V power outlet at their home to recharge the plug-in hybrid in just two and a half hours. If they wish to forego the installation, a normal 120V household electrical outlet (the same used for a phone charger) can be plugged in to charge the Niro PHEV overnight. Then there’s of course public charging stations as noted above.

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Miami Lakes Automall Saving Money 2018

Saving Money in 2018 with Miami Lakes Automall

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia dealer Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Kia Soul in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Automall Saving Money 2018

With the new year, a lot of people tend to make New Year’s resolutions. Guess what usually makes it to the top of the list. It’s money. Money, money, money, we all want to save and make more money! The gold rush is gone and is never coming back, so no one is going to strike it rich overnight any day soon. There are ways we can start saving money in 2018 though. Have some food for thought – it’s on us.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

If in the market to buy or lease a new car, Miami Lakes Automall has a great selection of vehicles, including alternative fuel vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Kia Niro, the Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), the Chevy Volt, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and many more. Our section of alternative fuel vehicles range from $20-$45,000, and they all come with some awesome opportunities for savings. Let’s do some math.

Chevy Bolt EV was introduced in 2017 and it is an award-winning electric vehicle that has a total driving distance of 238 miles on a fully charged battery. According to fueleconomy.gov, the average driver driving the Chevy Bolt EV spends about $550 in energy costs every year, and in comparison to the average new vehicle, the average driver saves about $4,250 in fuel costs every five years. Additionally, the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV is eligible for the full federal tax credit of $7,500. With a tax credit, if a consumer purchases the Bolt EV in 2018, then come tax season for the 2018 tax year, the consumer does not have to pay up to $7,500 in taxes that are owed to the federal government. Also, since the Chevy Bolt EV is a fully electric vehicle, the vehicle has no exhaust and emits zero tailpipe emissions, which is also great!

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Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid Added to the Lineup

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid

A little while after Kia Motors released the Kia Niro, a hybrid crossover, they also started to tease the upcoming 2018 Kia Stonic and a plug-in hybrid variant of the Niro. There was no set release date, really very little talk about a Niro plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), so Kia Motors pulled a fast one when they released the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV over the holiday break. Now officially a part of the lineup, the Niro isn’t the only great crossover hybrid anymore.

The 2018 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid

Whenever a vehicle is called a plug-in hybrid, that means the vehicle can operate solely on gas from the internal combustion engine, an electric motor powered by a battery, or a combination of both. Because of that, the Niro PHEV has a larger battery than its counterpart, the Kia Niro. The Niro is equipped with a a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, whereas the Niro PHEV has an 8.9 kWh battery powering its motor. The internal combustion engine found in the Niro is the same engine in the Niro PHEV. Together, the engine and the motor produce 139 horsepower combined and 195 lb-ft of torque.

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Miami Lakes Kia Charging Stations Miami

Kia Motors and Charging Stations in Miami

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Posted in Kia car dealership, Kia Dealers in Miami, Kia Dealerships in Miami, Miami Kia Dealer, South Miami Kia

Miami Lakes Kia Charging Stations Miami

Listen up Miami drivers. Hybrid and electric vehicles are ramping up in the auto market, and soon enough they will be the more practical automobile on the streets. If the somewhat challenge of finding a charging station is holding you back, then we have a surprise for you. Many locations around the Miami area have been installing charging stations, such as Downtown Miami, Brickell, South Beach, and Wynwood.

Where to Charge Up

Downtown Miami

There are many locations in Downtown Miami, so we’re listing the most popular areas for charging up. Going west from Bayfront Park, there are several charging stations one may find, here are a few:

  • One Biscayne Tower, 2 South Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, has one port on the 12th floor with a max of two hours charging time.
  • Suntrust International Center, 1 SE 3rd Avenue, Miami, has two ports in the garage on the third floor for $2/hr for four hours.
  • Southeast Financial Center, 200 Biscayne Boulevard #350, Miami, two ports on the slope between 4th and 5th floors, FREE for the first four hours.
  • Whole Foods, 299 SE 3rd Street, Miami, two level 2 chargers at the north wall bottom of parking garage, first hour FREE with purchase.
  • Lanier Parking Garage, 226 SE 1st Street Miami, one wall outlet on third floor.

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