Kia's first electric model will be equipped with an 800V battery system that can be fully charged in 15 minutes

According to foreign media reports, Kia will launch its first dedicated electric vehicle model in 2021. It will be a high-performance, crossover-like sedan. It is said that the car will use an ultra-fast 800V battery system that can be fully charged in 15 minutes.

(Image source: electrek.co)

So far, the use ofThe classic model of the 800V battery system architecture is the Porsche Taycan, which starts at about $105,000 and can go up to $187,000. GM said its GMC Hummer electric vehicle will also use an 800V battery system.

Porsche's 800V battery system uses lighter, thinner wires, enabling faster charging with less heat. Replacing the classic 400V battery system with an 800V battery system reduces the current by half, and the Taycan model with a range of 200 miles can be charged at a maximum power of 270kW, which means that it can charge from 5% to 80% in just 20 minutes.

GM says both its 400V and 800V platforms can restore about 100 miles of range to a vehicle in 10 minutes.

(Image source: electrek.co)

In January, Kia confirmed that the upcoming electric model will have a range of about 300 miles and can be charged in less than 20 minutes. First, it will need to be equipped with a 350-kW fast charger. Currently, no electric car can charge at 350-kW, but the new 800V battery system can usually charge at 250-kW.

Emilio Herrera, chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe, said that the new electric vehicles that will be launched on the market will not only charge quickly, but also accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds.

Carlos Lahoz, Kia's European marketing director, said that advanced technology does not necessarily have to be expensive and used for exclusive brands. The key is to transplant the 800V system to lower-priced models. Kia said that some lower-priced electric vehicles may retain the 400V architecture, while high-end and higher-priced models will provide 800V systems with fast charging capabilities.