Upcoming Kia EV1 Will Be Even Smaller And More Affordable - Related to range-enhancing, ev1, view, be, will

EV Range-Enhancing Speakers Sound Too Good To Be True

A British audio speaker corporation indicates its in-vehicle sound technology can boost range for electric vehicles with lighter weight and less energy consumption.

The "electrostatic speakers" can apparently create "personal bubbles" in the cabin, minimizing noise overlap.

Reports suggest they will debut in a production EV this year, with rumors of that being the all-electric Range Rover.

Automakers across the globe are constantly searching for ways to increase the range of their electric vehicles. Some solutions, like high-density battery packs, efficient motors, and aerodynamic designs, are proven. However, one British corporation points to it has a novel, out-of-the-box solution to potentially make your EV go further.

That solution is, erm… energy-efficient speakers.

British firm Warwick Acoustics says its sound technology can boost EV range by as much as 20 miles compared to traditional audio systems. The range increase stems from lightweight “electrostatic speakers,” The Independent first reported on Thursday. It has installed these speakers in a prototype Polestar 2, claiming to offer 90% weight savings, 90% less energy consumption and 100% recyclability. That would of course be subject to variables like battery size and vehicle weight.

Photo by: Warwick Acoustics Electrostatic speakers.

The speakers are claimed to be super thin, so packaging is relatively simple and effective. The corporation indicates the speakers will debut in a production vehicle this year, with the news outlet reporting rumors of that being the new all-electric Range Rover.

Warwick Acoustics explains in a blog that electrostatic speakers generate sound using an electrically charged, super-thin diaphragm suspended between two metal plates. When an audio signal is applied, it creates an electrostatic field that moves the diaphragm, producing sound waves. At least theoretically, it indicates to offer advanced clarity and low distortion.

By comparison, traditional speakers use coils and magnetic fields to generate sound, which, , have too much mass and too many moving parts, and they cause distortion.

When installed into a headrest, traditional speakers have limitations regarding frequencies and the amount of area they can cover, the business says. “With an electrostatic speaker, it is possible to shape the diaphragm to cover the entire headrest area,” which helps “each passenger get a perfectly balanced audio zone, where moving your head doesn’t mean a sudden audio fade-out.”.

This can help create “personal bubbles” for occupants without “overlapping noise.” So, if the driver has to answer a call, passengers at the back can continue enjoying the music. And presumably, occupants won’t have to fight over different tastes in music or volume levels.

Automakers have been razor-focused on making EVs efficient by reducing unnecessary components, using fewer parts, giga-casting large portions of the underbody and taking a Tesla-like approach of simplifying manufacturing as much as possible, all in the interest of improving range and efficiency. Now new quirky solutions from suppliers are surfacing, too. But rest assured that your favorite sound systems aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

That expressed, if the electrostatic speakers ever make it into the electric Range Rover as rumored, we’ll certainly review it to see if it can hold its own against the heavyweights of premium audio like Meridian, Burmester, Bose and more.

There are no details about the EV2's battery, but if it's the same size as the Inster, the biggest pack will be [website] kWh....

Honda Malaysia (HM) will be launching three new models in 2025. This was ......

Detroit is the heart of American automaking, and the great state of Michigan is seeing almost $9 billion in private investments and 14,000 jobs to cra......

Upcoming Kia EV1 Will Be Even Smaller And More Affordable

Kia is reportedly working on an even smaller electric model than the upcoming EV2.

It will likely be called the EV and it is expected to be the electric equivalent of the Kia Picanto city car.

It is expected to be priced €5,000 ($5,200) lower than the EV2.

Earlier this week, Kia unveiled several new electric models that will enter production soon. One of the most exciting is the pint-sized EV2 Concept, which previews a production model by the same name. The EV2 is basically Kia’s electric Europan city car, shrinking down the E-GMP platform for drivers who need something that doesn't take up lots of space. But that's not all—Kia is reportedly planning to go even smaller with its electric offerings.

The similar Hyundai Inster and EV2 are the Hyundai-Kia group’s smallest EVs, but , Kia is working on something even smaller, an electric equivalent of the tiny Picanto city car available on the European market. The Inster is already tiny by American standards, which is why neither it nor the EV2 are coming to the States, so the chance that the upcoming smaller model would be sold here is even slimmer.

And we know from past reporting that Kia has a whole family of EVs planned, from the EV9 all the way down to what this car will likely be: the Kia EV1.

For reference, the Hyundai Inster measures [website] inches ([website] meters) in length and is just [website] inches ([website] meters) wide, sitting on a [website] ([website] wheelbase. The Kia Picanto is almost 9 inches (22 cm) shorter and even narrower, and it’s likely the future EV1 will be roughly the same size.

The source findings also says the EV1 will cost about €25,000 ($26,000) or around €5,000 ($5,200) more than the larger EV2.

Autocar quotes Kia president Ho Sung Song as saying, “If we want to move to the late majority customer target group, definitely we need a lower size of model—or a lower-price model—and we are internally studying what will be our entry EV models, apart from our EV2. Maybe next EV Day, we’ll show you what we are planning.”.

There are already EVs in the future EV1’s size bracket available in Europe, including the Dacia Spring, the Leapmotor T03 or the BYD Seagull. Renault is also working on an electric Twingo revival, which will share its underpinnings with an even cheaper future Dacia EV that will replace the current Spring.

The upcoming Dacia EV is expected to start around €18,000 ($18,800), making it considerably more affordable than all vehicles its size, including the EV1.

Honda Malaysia has presented its sales target for 2025, the corporation sta......

After showing the exterior design last week, Kia has divulged more details about its new electric PV5 van for Europe and South Korea.

Despite Volvo softening its electric vehicle (EV) plans globally, it’s still scaling up locally to become an all-electric brand by 2026.

View Interior Photos of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580

The G580 is the battery-electric version of the iconic Mercedes-Benz G-wagen. The interior largely mirrors that of the gas models, with upright seating and flat windows. Don't expect tons of space in the back seat, however, especially with the optional infotainment screens.

After showing the exterior design last week, Kia has divulged more details about its new electric PV5 van for Europe and South Korea.

From the March 1982 issue of Car and Driver.

You can drive around these United States all afternoon and half the night, in almost any neighborhood yo......

While the brand has not confirmed what versions of the EV4 it plans to introduce, it introduced the smaller EV2 city SUV due in 2026 is.