Got Electric Cars……..? Kia Does

The recent introduction of the Kia Ray EV to the Korean market may be a sign of things to come in the United States.

Kia is getting into the electric car game. Recently, the automaker unveiled their very first production electric vehicle the Kia Ray EV. The Ray will offer buyers a range of 86 miles or so, and will include a fast-charge option that will top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, the 16.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will take about 6 hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit.

Kia is celebrating the fact that the Electric Ray shares the same production line as the gasoline version of the car, which was introduced just last month. Kia will exclusively offer the electric Ray in their domestic Korean market at first.

Actually Kia plans to produce 2500 Rays in 2012 and has already designated them for use by government officials as part of a long-term research and development program for environmentally friendly transport. There are currently 500 slow and fast charging stations in Korea, with plans to 3100 stations operating by the end of 2012.

However, although the Ray EV is only going to be available in Korea, this unveiling provides a strong hint of how many cars around the world may look in the near future. The size, power system, and other design features of the Ray EV reflect a direction that many car makers, including U.S. manufacturers, are exploring as they try to lower overall fuel consumption.

Consumers are much more conscious about the impact their car has on the environment, and car manufacturers have taken notice and started producing cars that are environment and cash friendly. The Kia Ray EV may currently only be available in Korea, but Kia along with all manufacturers are surely paying close attention American car trends.