How Do Electric Cars (EVs) Work? | Kia UK

How do Electric cars work?

An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. This makes them more economical and with no emissions, better for the environment. And instead of refuelling you simply recharge at home, or at one of the many public charge points.

Reasons to drive a Kia Electric car

There are substantial benefits to owning an electric car. Here are our top four.

Cheap to run

Because electricity is much cheaper than petrol or diesel, your journey could cost less than a third of what it would in a combustion - engine car. Battery-electric vehicles can also travel for free in the UK’s new Clean Air Zones and London’s Congestion Zone.

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Zero Emissions

An electric vehicle doesn’t have a tailpipe, which means no exhaust emissions. This helps improve air quality, particularly in urban areas.

Charge at home

Imagine waking up every day with a ‘full tank’. Just plug in when you get home, and your car takes care of the rest.

Relaxing Drive

Electric cars are incredibly quiet, making for a more relaxing atmosphere. Driving is easy too, because electric motors produce maximum torque at all revs. That simply means you get maximum power without having rev through the gears, so acceleration is instant.

CAR Magazine EV6 Review

The battle to build the perfect family EV hots up: Kia’s bold new EV6 takes on the best of the breed from VW and Ford.

"And there's a clear winner... The Kia EV6. It drives the best, has the classiest cabin and the most advanced electronics, and is the most comfortable on broken B-roads or smooth motorways. It’s a striking looking car and shows the many upsides of EV ownership."

Kia EV Insurance

If you currently own or are going to purchase a Kia Electric Vehicle (EV) or a Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) you can be confident that your car will receive the specialist electric vehicle cover and care it needs with Kia Electric Vehicle Insurance.

Find out more

Electric car myths

An electric car could massively reduce your running costs, but is it right for you? To help you make an informed choice, we’ve dispelled some of the most common EV myths.

Kia e-Niro

Discover a world of smart convenience and amazing sensations. The Kia e-Niro gives you instant acceleration, easy charging and long-range driving. All in the comfort of a spacious, stylish and extremely quiet cabin. And all of this with zero emissions. Sustainable driving has never felt so good.

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Soul EV

The all-electric Kia Soul EV steers clear of the status quo – taking bold to a whole new level bringing a fresh perspective to zero-emission driving.

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view the complete Electric & Hybrid range

Take the test. Find your match.

Finding out which Kia Electric and Hybrid Car best suits your needs and lifestyle is simple: Just answer the following 4 multiple-choice questions to generate your personal match.

More about Electric & Hybrid cars

What is a battery electric car?

A battery electric vehicle is better for the environment than a petrol or diesel car, cheaper to run and simpler to own. Like the sound of that? Our simple guide can tell you more.
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What is a Hybrid car?

A hybrid car switches between petrol and electric automatically to optimise driving performance, improve fuel economy and lower emissions. Simply get in and the car generates power as you drive. No plugging in required.
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What is a Plug-In Hybrid car?

Plug-in Hybrid cars use a combination of petrol and electric to offer you many of the benefits of an electric car and a petrol engine combined.
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What is a Mild Hybrid car?

Kia’s mild hybrid cars use a very small battery and a clever motor/generator to save fuel and lower emissions.
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How does charging work?

Don’t worry, charging may seem complicated, but in reality it’s very simple.
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What is the cost of running an electric car?

Owning an electric car is cheaper than you might think, with tax incentives and lower running costs.
read more