Very interesting aspect after driving several cars, to have this cleared: There are several Philosophies as for the recuperation and one-pedal-driving or not. VW e-Golf: Free Sailing possible (like in neutral gear), four different recuperation modes, recuperation possible via the brakes (until max. recuperation is achieved, then normal brakes apply) Kia Soul EV: D-Mode just slight recuperation, harder recuperation mode, recuperation possible via the brakes (until max. recuperation is achieved, then normal brakes apply) BMW i3 & Tesla (Model X / S): Always recuperation when leaving the throttle, different modes available, but braking system separately without any effect on recuperation!
Dunno if you guys cares but if you're bored like me during the covid times then you can watch pretty much all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been streaming with my gf for the last few months =)
This has actually been my favorite electric car. I really hope that Kia upgrade the battery size (50 Kw battery maybe?) - if it could deliver, say, 180 miles per charge it would be great as it has so much personality. A great place to be! And to think that it was a conversion from the original combustion version of the car.
The soul is going to be my next car and I think with 30kw battery with the 2018 version. I have not seen a bad review for this car. Brilliant review. Thanks.
Having driven Kia Soul EV when it arrived in the U.K. last year, we can confirm it's quality package, much better than a Nissan LEAF, good fun to drive with some rare personality.
Thank you for the very detailed review. We are planning to get a used EV in the next year or so to off-set most of our daily driving duties, and I'm a big fan of this model. The used EV market in the US has some insane deals (most likely due to the low cost of fuel here), so I'm hoping to get a 2nd-hand Soul EV+ before that changes. Keep it up with the great videos.
I just bought a 2018 Soul EV. Paperwork done today, picking it up Thursday! Tried the i3, the E-Golf and the Soul was the best choice of the three, IMO. This car is so good, in every single way...
I've been driving a VW e-Golf for over 2 years now. LOVE it so much I just sold my long cherished VW R32 because I'm 100% convinced electric is the the future, but that i could live the future now :) The current e-Golf has a smaller battery than the Soul, but way better aerodynamics, so even though the Soul has longer city range, the e-Golf has better freeway range due mostly to aero.... But I applaud anyone who takes the leap into EV's. I for one will no longer buy a fully gas powered car. Saved over $3,500 in 1 year over driving the VR6 R32! It doesn't compare performance wise, but I only went to the track once every 2 years or so. So for daily commute the e-Golf is more fun! Most EV's are!
Grazie, Thomas. Did you find the light coloured dash to be too reflective on the inside of the windscreen? Q7 ugly? I agree! They blew it on that styling.
Great review of a great car. I really like this EV, especially the styling. Modern, different and strong. Looks are subjective of course, each to their own. Incidentally, the 'leather seats' are not actually leather; they're a man made synthetic, so "no animals were harmed" etc. The plastics used in the interior are different too; a mix of vegetable based compounds used. It's a great car.
Thanks for the review Thomas. stop start has been around for decades but not very well integrated in most ICE cars. I recommend you drive an old Audi a2, the special 1,2 version. it has an excellent stop start system. In many ways it pioneered eco driving. I was pleasantly surprised to go from regen braking of the BMW i3 back to the glide mode, lightness and better aerodynamics of the older A2! Even after all these years in terms of energy usage it still has much to teach the current generation on how to save energy. Today's cars are just too big, heavy and unwieldy on European roads.
Another great review Thomas. Thank you. Interesting discussion of regenerative mode for maximising range. I look forward to your future EV reviews (also the Niro PHEV when it is released). It's good seeing little bits of Germany too.
At 4:00 or thereabouts: Yes, the chunky shape. The theory goes - and I only know any depth to it because Dad made me help him do fluid flow analysis to verify the drag coefficient of his electric car he built in 1979 (yes, no typo, nineteen seventy-nine): the front of the vehicle matters a lot less than the rear. So, the traditional idea of a long bonnet then sharp drop-back, may not be all that smooth. However, 'laminar flow' matters too, so a long snout may help eg with the E-type and certain models like the corvette, to ready the air for the next obstacle. In short, although the Kia Soul contravenes the wisdom of 'reasonable front/really tailing-away rear', there's more to it. They have made the car bump the air up and out with that bluntish front and the cubic design, BUT there is no air intake grille to speak of as you said Thomas, plus, the car as all EVs are, is lower to the ground than it appears (clever optical illusion - see at 4:00 the dark, low slung part of the battery, yet the cills make your eye think it's a mini-SUV with decent ground clearance?). So, they mitigate losses at the front. Come the rear, the air has straightened out a bit (becoming more laminar flow and unruffled) and the entire roof actually attempts to 'draw down' the airflow by that rake downward toward the back window. Then, that very low central underside, actually comes up quite a way over the usual (for post-2000 cars) smoothed-out profile of the floorpan, to about 2/3 the height of the wheels. There's that small nod to a Nissan LEAF, of an over-sized rear 1/8 of a wheel arch, then and only then, you get into the 'flat vertical' bit of the rear end. Plus, it's not quite vertical, and there is a curve if you look at a plan view, to pull air in from the sides a little. So it's a cubic look to the car, but it's a rounded cube! AND of course, NONE of this hardly matters at all, down at 25mph or so (34kph) around town or less, because aerodynamics only start hurting noticeably beyond 30mph/48kph. The reason why the rear matters, is the point is, to get the air 'smooth' (laminal flow) and pul it in behind the object punching through the air, because towing that vacuum of low-pressure and ruffled air behind the object, is what saps power ie uses battery energy or fuel in an ICE. Sorry, got into it a bit, but this explanation holds for just about anything in air and some other fluids too. For proof of the 'blunt front/long tail-away' principle, check out nature - yes, fish and swimming mammals, no really. Dolphin - snout, then biggish but basically reaching max size within the first third of its length. Then, the long tail. Whales - well, you get the idea! Stuff that has to make its way through fluids (eg air) is efficient when most effort is concentrated at filling in that vacuum behind it. QUESTION: Does anyone think, it might be worth, fitting small fans at the back, to 'pump' air forcibly to fill the rear vacuum the car tows behind it, presumably even, taking in air through small entry tubes in the front maybe a circle of duct around the spotlights to hide it? If the theory basically I put here holds up, this would potentially save more energy than it takes to turn the fans feeding air into the 'empty/ruffled' vacuum at the back?
I recently bought a KIA SOUL EV. I testdrove also a Renault ZOE but the SOUL feels much more like a "real" car compared to the ZOE which felt more like a toy car (my personal view :-) ). In summer I usually get between 180-200km of range with mixed driving. In Winter it's about 35-40 km less. I actually like the special "boxy" design but I know it doesn't meet everybody's taste. Definitely a buy recommendation from my site!
Hi, I just ordered a Soul EV and I am a litte concerned about the range during winter time (I live in Sweden). I have 65 km one way to work (mostly 110 km/h road) will I make it without charging at work?
Andreas Foda I guess you will get the one with 30kwh battery then. Me and my wife will testdrive one tomorrow. I have 150km to work a few days every month and I think this car will make it. Swede too by the way.
Hi Thomas, very nice review, I like the place where you were reviewing this car, the architecture and the nature that were appearing in the background while you were driving, in this beautiful Autumn. Like always, Kia is assuring generation after generation, their principal which is The Power To Surprise! I like this car as well, but I prefer the petrol engine exterior design of the front grille as a function for the air intake, and seeing it closed here looks like if you closed a window with a cartoon which doesn't give a nice look! Like something which is suppressing the car to be beautiful the way it should be! Like if someone blocked its mouth with masking tape! I don't know how to say it! The interior is very successful and very contemporary and suits the young generation taste! Anyway, personally I believe KIA & Hyundai will takeover all cars in the very near future like Samsung mobiles did with all other brands that were great once! :)
Good review Thomas. But I think the KIA EV is a compromise, because there are one minor adaptation in correlation to the fuel KIA. It is not possible to realise all benefits which are possible with E-car driven engine. The best way will be to start with the battery and design the car around them. Like the new OPEL Ampera E. Regarding Autobahn driving, it is the same as for fuel cars, if you drive faster you will need much more fuel...but naturally with low battery range, you will get nervous much earlier ;-)) Cheers DrDuu
Love the review Thomas, it also convinces me electric cars are really just better then people think, and maybe soon better then today's reliable conbustion engine cars.
Could you please include your consumption in EV reviews? (kWh/100km) That way the running costs can be easily calculated, especially with our more expensive electricity prices in Germany. Also, how much did you pay at the charging station, is it cheaper than at home?
To be super precise, you would do the same as in a gasoline/diesel vehicle: measure the total distance traveled divided by the amount of energy used to charge the vehicle back to 100%. If you only use charging stations, they usually tell you how much you used. BUT it will probably suffice to just report what the trip computer says, just scroll through the different options and you should see it. Every electric car I have driven, including the cheap ones: smart for two electric and Renault Zoe, will show the amount of electricity consumed in kWh/100km or watt/km. This is super convenient because we can multiply the consumption per 100km by the kWh price and compare that to how much it would cost compared to a diesel/gas car. :)
Why do so many electric cars look like toys? I see no need to design electric cars differently compared to regular internal combustion vehicles. That aside, i actually drove in both this and the Zoe and i have to say i was pleasantly surprised by both!
I do have a good memory of the 1st generation of this model (fuel car) because my friends had one and whe even packed there 4 people and all stuff for our ski holidays (900 km travel in one direction). But the materials inside were poor quality and worn out very soon. This 2nd generation looks diffrenet inside and from the back but I don't like the design. I think it's time for KIA to make a new edition of this model. And the electric car should look even more futuristic - in my opinion of course. Could you please pay attention to the new hybrid model of Toyota CH-R, which you've already presented from Paris car show and maybe make a review in a near future? :)
Hi, Thomas great ev review as most of Autogefühl!! I am looking ahead for a Thomas Reviews of the new BMW i3 94ah Rex I just got. I know Autogefuehl already did a great i3 review a few years ago but, although a great review from your colleage.. I like more Thomas´s Reviews. My brother just order what he calls a Thomas´s Cayman 718..hahaha!! That´s because he fall in love with the configuration of the unit you review recently on Cayman 718 so he has chosen Graphite blue Metalic as exterior colour and also and more important "...The best Porsche interior combination ever..." blue-crayon sport-text interior :), of course... "with not animal skin interior surface..." :)
It may be helpful if we could know how much electric power is being used by the electric heat devices and the electric a/c. The biggest factor of range is the driver IMHO. Very comprehensive review Thomas, thank you.
Nice Review as always. I am Looking forward to next Year. There many interesting new cars to come out. I am very happy about the Channel, it is already a Part of my life which i dont Want to miss. Sitting here with a Cup of coffee in the Morning and enjoying your new Videos. Awesome! I really like that you are reviewing every car with this great passion and honestly I was Last week at the new Mercedes Store in Frankfurt and I was really interested in the Facelift Version of the CLA and i found Myself doing the door closing soundcheck^^ haha I have searched for a Review of it on your channel but i have Not found one. Is there a Chance you are doing one maybe of the all new CLA Version when its comming out? I really wish that you can keep up thos amazing work for us! Thank you! ^^ #FanBoy Ps.: I am sorry, but i am way to much amazed of all the Love you pur in every single review, just wow!
Thomasz, it feels like you were very kind with the fit and finish. No need to reexplain EV driving in every video I guess (EV just make more sense in every regard). What about safety features? AEB, ACC etc #onepedaldriving at 27:39 you say "you see"... no we don't ;) extra camera is needed to see the cluster. Soundproofing isn't just about engine/motor: what about tire noise, wind noise; and just exterior noises... Judging its quality on highway is irrelevant: you don't hear engines in modern cars at stable high speed. "300 to 400km of range a lot of new vehicules already have" ... advertised in controlled environnment, I wouldn't expect the Opel eAmpera to give 400km in similar condition as your test drive ;) Surprised why there's so much stuff in the engine compartment (motors are much smaller than engine); also why the need for hood with dampers, who needs to open the hood on EV? Also EV doesn't mean just city-car; that's also great for anyone country-side that doesn't need highways/autobahn for their daily commutes.
Very interesting car! This is future and it's closer that someone thinks. I would like to see more similar cars. Maybe i can sugest that you grab Hyundai IONIQ for your next test. And maybe I would like to hear your opinion about cars and everything that comes along with some more attitude. Grear job!
Great review Thomas. Seems a very practicable and versatile car, but range and charging point limitations might be a problem. Hybrid cars seem to be a better option at the moment.
Andrew K, NI UK new Opel Ampera EV Chevy Bolt probably better. the Rex BMW i3 is the only plugin hybrid that's not worse than diesel equivalent in real world mpg (total energy usage not fake electrical energy us free nonsense).
Dear Thomas, Im thinking of buying the Peugeot 3008. Because i was disappointed by the Audi Q5. And im wondering will you do a review pretty soon? Because im not sure witch engine to buy. The 1.2 is good but i hear problems are maybe with the 1.6. I love the looks on the inside and outside. I dont like the asian looks of cars.
EVs should be shaped like the most slick and modern cars possible and not like a brick. The Soul EV is probably another EV which achieves 80-100 miles if driven at speeds lower than ICE cars.
The range still isn't big enough on these electrics. Either they need to improve the batteries or invest in hydrogen cell technology. I like the Soul's design - it's a bit different - utilitarian but trendy.
hydrogen cell is a dead technology...if you want to carry a hydrogen bomb around in your car... battery's are getting better and charging speeds are getting better who needs the added complexity of a hydrogen cell ?
No Animals were killed for those seats, they are made of Synthetic Leather just an Fyi. The seats come in Bio-fabric cloth and Synthetic Leather. The Q7 is ugly. the range always shows very pessimistic, you get way more most of the time, except for hwy speeds 100-120 k are more precise. In my experience.
thanks for the information, that sounds great! The price list didnt say so, it explicitly said animal skin. Do you have any sources I can consider? Maybe it is also a market difference.
Where I live and drive the Soul EV Toronto, Canada (North American Market) the ratings are different then Europe. How ever the vehicle has an Identical battery, power train, and aerodynamics. So suffice it to say its the same, but here is my official Source www.kia.ca/build-and-price-kia#0. Build a Soul EV then at the bottom of the page is the soul ev.pdf with all the specifications is there to download. Also here is another source. www.kia.ca/soulev?sourceid=abtest-b-nav
Very interesting. German price list and configurator says that the inner parts are leather, the outer parts leatherette. But i ll re-check with the product marketing, as it is very strange: Both seats look the same.
I agree this is getting stranger as we dig deeper, but it makes sense that they said 80% recycled or recyclable material. So if the strong parts needed to be leather for structural reasons 20%, the the outside 80% was leatherette sounds logical.
All electric cars should have transmissions like a DCT on each wheel. A 2 or 3 speed DCT at least as an option would be good for say going 80-140 km/h and would also increase acceleration and efficiency.
No it would not. Changing the ratio does not change of work the system must do to push the car. You addresing this from combustion engine filosophy. Electric motor is very efficient and torque in *all* it's rpm range *compared* to combustion engine. Gearbox is just another s..t part which can break and also adds weight/price to the system. Adding gearbox would not add efficiency to the system. Adding one fixed good ratio solves all the problems and simplifys system. For example going 140km/h motor is spining 6000rpm, but it doesn't mean that at 3000rpm and 140km/h this motor would have better efficiency. Actually it could be even worse.
Okay I might have mixed that up that's right, What I actually wanted to say is that as far as I understand electric motors for example in the Teslas have peak torque at low rpm and the higher they rev the more torque and eventually power they lose and higher rpms also mean more friction to me therefore less efficency Looking at efficency charts they seem to have a peak efficency in the middle of their rpm range but maintain very high efficency
Friction in motor is minimal. It is only 2 bearings. Maybe rotor spining in air but that is so minimal compared to gearbox and added weight penalty and price. It is just not worth it in such car. Remember that power = torque*rpm. So if you lower to much rpm you will lose also power. The motor will not be able to handle power the car needs to sustain 140km/h. Yes ofcourse there is rpm regions in every motor. But it is not so huge that you could avoid gearbox. And Rimac is on limit of the system. If you pushing 400kW power to the motor and have eficiency of 85%. That 15% is 60kW of power that's needs to be cooled. So they are doing every possible way to handle it extremely correctly in every way.
Tzzz, früher hat als schlechten Scherz gesagt "Atomstrom, wieso? Der Strom kommt bei mir aus der Steckdose!" Heute plappern viele so etwas ersthaft: es ist echt gut für die Stadt, wenn an den Kreuzungen keine Abgase mehr aus dem Auspuff kommen. Also Sie (und viele andere) vergleichen 1 Elektro-Auto mit hunderten bzw. tausenden Verbrennern im Stadtverkehr. Ein einzelner Benziner oder Diesel hat auch keinerlei Effekt auf die Luftqualität für Anwohner in einer Stadt. Würden jetzt aber tausende Elektroautos durch unsere Städte fahren, wo kommt dann der ganze Strom her? Ja, ja, aus der Steckdose. In Deutschland jedenfalls wird noch der größte Teil des Stromes aus Kohle (und Öl und Gas) gewonnen und auch diese Kraftwerke müssten ihre Leistung hoch fahren, wenn nun ganz schnell viele mal eben E-Auto fahren. Dann kommt der Abgas- Dreck halt aus Schornsteinen am Stadtrand und nicht mehr aus Auspuffen, man kann es dann nur nicht so gut sehen, etwas besser verteilt die Abgase, aber sie sind sehr wohl dann vermehrt da. Aber was man nicht sieht, gibt es nicht, stimmt's? Messungen bestätigen aber, dass sich Kraftwerks-Schadstoffe nach einer gewissen Flugzeit dann eben an gewissen Berghängen in hoher Konzentration wieder finden. Mich ärgert einfach, dass hier einzelne E-Autos mit der Masse von Verbrennern verglichen werden und nicht die Masse der Verbrenner mit einer ebenso großen Masse an E-Autos. Einfach dämlich solche Vergleiche. Frag doch mal die Leute, die bei Braunkohle- Gruben oder Kraftwerken wohnen, wie es denen geht... Klar, können auch noch mehr Windräder gebaut werden, aber nicht so viel in den nächsten 10 Jahren, dass der Kohleanteil stark reduziert wird + ein stark steigender Strombedarf von theoretisch aufkommenden E-Autos gedeckt würde. Ein bisschen natürlich schon, ich will nicht alles schlecht reden. Mich stört nur wie gesagt der Vergleich von einem (oder einer Hand voll E-Autos) mit ...(wie gesagt), die scheinbar mangels Auspuff die Stadtluft besser machen.
Es ist eine Frage der Speicherung. An manchen Tagen produziert Deutschland 150 % des Stromes (also mehr als benötigt wird) aus regenerativen Energien, und wir müssen den Strom nicht nur verschenken, sondern sogar dafür bezahlen, dass er in andere Netze gepumpt wird. Dafür laufen dann an anderen Tagen die Kohle- und Atomkraftwerke, wenn der Wind nicht weht. Das ist das Dilemma. Lösung: Gute Energiespeicher.
Thank you for taking interest in this very important topic! We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter. At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself. Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production: ruclips.net/video/LNSUzZXzpdc/видео.html List of practical reasons against animal skin seats:
1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it) 2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling 3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating 4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling 5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa 6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review ruclips.net/video/y2wNGFKa4M0/видео.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that 7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather)
To the environmental reasons:
1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below) 2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf 3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage. 4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body. 5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy. 6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/
To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production” 1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small. 2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce. 3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future.
More special video episodes:
1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: ruclips.net/video/8f91KgbVbJQ/видео.html 2. And another one right here: ruclips.net/video/tMNgcLE0LDU/видео.html 3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: ruclips.net/video/JipYvuDsI6s/видео.html timecode starting 27:46 4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: ruclips.net/video/OgHs239bAnE/видео.html 5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway.
Manufacturers reactions: We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury. So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Tesla and Mercedes are already showing major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change!
SUVs and cross overs have so many downsides that seem to be rarely mentioned in reviews. Sitting higher means more aerodynamic drag which takes up 80% of energy consumption at just 100km/h (60mph). Then even at lower speeds the excessive weight/obese nature of these cars affects acceleration, energy consumption and rolling resistance. If you buy an EV or PHEV version the eco credentials are just not really there. Bigger means more resources used up. Even transporters and breakdown vehicles have to grow in size to cope. The battery actually adds to the weight problem. This also increases particulate pollution from road dust. Sure if you really need to carry 7 people everywhere, everyday or are a farmer then fine, but most cars carry just one adult. Then there's road space - urban on Street parking becomes more difficult, the roads become narrower and traffic flow us reduced. Children are more easily hidden between parked cars and the higher bonnet/hood line of SUVs means the driver doesn't see the child trying to cross the road as easily as lower cars. At T junctions there is less chance of filtering cars (in USA turning right on red). Cyclists get reduced space, the gaps get smaller and this means collisions are more likely. it also means less air space in urban congestion so pollution get trapped and more intense for pedestrians and cyclists. The higher and now blighter LED headlamps shine straight into the normal car driver's live in sight in the rear view mirror, etc, etc...... supersize me culture gone mad!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Very interesting aspect after driving several cars, to have this cleared: There are several Philosophies as for the recuperation and one-pedal-driving or not.
VW e-Golf: Free Sailing possible (like in neutral gear), four different recuperation modes, recuperation possible via the brakes (until max. recuperation is achieved, then normal brakes apply)
Kia Soul EV: D-Mode just slight recuperation, harder recuperation mode, recuperation possible via the brakes (until max. recuperation is achieved, then normal brakes apply)
BMW i3 & Tesla (Model X / S): Always recuperation when leaving the throttle, different modes available, but braking system separately without any effect on recuperation!
Dunno if you guys cares but if you're bored like me during the covid times then you can watch pretty much all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been streaming with my gf for the last few months =)
@Thatcher Nelson Yup, I've been watching on Instaflixxer for months myself =)
This has actually been my favorite electric car. I really hope that Kia upgrade the battery size (50 Kw battery maybe?) - if it could deliver, say, 180 miles per charge it would be great as it has so much personality. A great place to be! And to think that it was a conversion from the original combustion version of the car.
The soul is going to be my next car and I think with 30kw battery with the 2018 version. I have not seen a bad review for this car. Brilliant review. Thanks.
thanks and enjoy !
I like the style of this car, most cars today look like they are about to take a bite out of you.
really? that's intersting. it would be grate if you keep supporting us :)
Great review Thomas 👍🏻
i really appreciate it
Having driven Kia Soul EV when it arrived in the U.K. last year, we can confirm it's quality package, much better than a Nissan LEAF, good fun to drive with some rare personality.
+driveEV 👍
I love your reviews... they are really detailed and informative. Keep up the great work!
thanks Steve!
Thank you for the very detailed review. We are planning to get a used EV in the next year or so to off-set most of our daily driving duties, and I'm a big fan of this model. The used EV market in the US has some insane deals (most likely due to the low cost of fuel here), so I'm hoping to get a 2nd-hand Soul EV+ before that changes. Keep it up with the great videos.
thanks for the feedback !
I just bought a 2018 Soul EV. Paperwork done today, picking it up Thursday! Tried the i3, the E-Golf and the Soul was the best choice of the three, IMO. This car is so good, in every single way...
enjoy!
Love your reviews! You're extremely informative and detailed.
+Chris Mansker thanks join more!
I've been driving a VW e-Golf for over 2 years now. LOVE it so much I just sold my long cherished VW R32 because I'm 100% convinced electric is the the future, but that i could live the future now :) The current e-Golf has a smaller battery than the Soul, but way better aerodynamics, so even though the Soul has longer city range, the e-Golf has better freeway range due mostly to aero.... But I applaud anyone who takes the leap into EV's. I for one will no longer buy a fully gas powered car. Saved over $3,500 in 1 year over driving the VR6 R32! It doesn't compare performance wise, but I only went to the track once every 2 years or so. So for daily commute the e-Golf is more fun! Most EV's are!
+JAEGERTECH very interesting! Where do u charge?
JAEGERTECH great informative video I think I'm going totakeatriptothe Kiadealer
JAEGERTECH unfortunately here in the caribbean only a small fraction of hybrids cars are on the roads we are not yet ready fo EVs 🙁
Grazie, Thomas.
Did you find the light coloured dash to be too reflective on the inside of the windscreen?
Q7 ugly? I agree! They blew it on that styling.
+Mario Dalla Riva hmm it is dark weather atm so it wasnt reflecting
Great review of a great car. I really like this EV, especially the styling. Modern, different and strong. Looks are subjective of course, each to their own.
Incidentally, the 'leather seats' are not actually leather; they're a man made synthetic, so "no animals were harmed" etc.
The plastics used in the interior are different too; a mix of vegetable based compounds used.
It's a great car.
+Alun Hoskins thanks! In the us they are, for Europe i couldnt get confirmation from kia strangely
Thanks for the review Thomas. stop start has been around for decades but not very well integrated in most ICE cars. I recommend you drive an old Audi a2, the special 1,2 version. it has an excellent stop start system. In many ways it pioneered eco driving. I was pleasantly surprised to go from regen braking of the BMW i3 back to the glide mode, lightness and better aerodynamics of the older A2! Even after all these years in terms of energy usage it still has much to teach the current generation on how to save energy. Today's cars are just too big, heavy and unwieldy on European roads.
Great review Thomas 👏🏻
thanks pete !!
Another great review Thomas. Thank you. Interesting discussion of regenerative mode for maximising range. I look forward to your future EV reviews (also the Niro PHEV when it is released). It's good seeing little bits of Germany too.
+J Oates 👍
At 4:00 or thereabouts: Yes, the chunky shape. The theory goes - and I only know any depth to it because Dad made me help him do fluid flow analysis to verify the drag coefficient of his electric car he built in 1979 (yes, no typo, nineteen seventy-nine): the front of the vehicle matters a lot less than the rear. So, the traditional idea of a long bonnet then sharp drop-back, may not be all that smooth. However, 'laminar flow' matters too, so a long snout may help eg with the E-type and certain models like the corvette, to ready the air for the next obstacle. In short, although the Kia Soul contravenes the wisdom of 'reasonable front/really tailing-away rear', there's more to it. They have made the car bump the air up and out with that bluntish front and the cubic design, BUT there is no air intake grille to speak of as you said Thomas, plus, the car as all EVs are, is lower to the ground than it appears (clever optical illusion - see at 4:00 the dark, low slung part of the battery, yet the cills make your eye think it's a mini-SUV with decent ground clearance?). So, they mitigate losses at the front. Come the rear, the air has straightened out a bit (becoming more laminar flow and unruffled) and the entire roof actually attempts to 'draw down' the airflow by that rake downward toward the back window. Then, that very low central underside, actually comes up quite a way over the usual (for post-2000 cars) smoothed-out profile of the floorpan, to about 2/3 the height of the wheels. There's that small nod to a Nissan LEAF, of an over-sized rear 1/8 of a wheel arch, then and only then, you get into the 'flat vertical' bit of the rear end. Plus, it's not quite vertical, and there is a curve if you look at a plan view, to pull air in from the sides a little. So it's a cubic look to the car, but it's a rounded cube! AND of course, NONE of this hardly matters at all, down at 25mph or so (34kph) around town or less, because aerodynamics only start hurting noticeably beyond 30mph/48kph. The reason why the rear matters, is the point is, to get the air 'smooth' (laminal flow) and pul it in behind the object punching through the air, because towing that vacuum of low-pressure and ruffled air behind the object, is what saps power ie uses battery energy or fuel in an ICE. Sorry, got into it a bit, but this explanation holds for just about anything in air and some other fluids too. For proof of the 'blunt front/long tail-away' principle, check out nature - yes, fish and swimming mammals, no really. Dolphin - snout, then biggish but basically reaching max size within the first third of its length. Then, the long tail. Whales - well, you get the idea! Stuff that has to make its way through fluids (eg air) is efficient when most effort is concentrated at filling in that vacuum behind it. QUESTION: Does anyone think, it might be worth, fitting small fans at the back, to 'pump' air forcibly to fill the rear vacuum the car tows behind it, presumably even, taking in air through small entry tubes in the front maybe a circle of duct around the spotlights to hide it? If the theory basically I put here holds up, this would potentially save more energy than it takes to turn the fans feeding air into the 'empty/ruffled' vacuum at the back?
interesting!
I recently bought a KIA SOUL EV. I testdrove also a Renault ZOE but the SOUL feels much more like a "real" car compared to the ZOE which felt more like a toy car (my personal view :-) ). In summer I usually get between 180-200km of range with mixed driving. In Winter it's about 35-40 km less. I actually like the special "boxy" design but I know it doesn't meet everybody's taste. Definitely a buy recommendation from my site!
thanks so much for the feedback!
Hi, I just ordered a Soul EV and I am a litte concerned about the range during winter time (I live in Sweden). I have 65 km one way to work (mostly 110 km/h road) will I make it without charging at work?
Andreas Foda I guess you will get the one with 30kwh battery then.
Me and my wife will testdrive one tomorrow.
I have 150km to work a few days every month and I think this car will make it.
Swede too by the way.
Good review Thomas! As always! Greetings from Romania. :-)
+Urma Ioan thx bro!
How much range?
Hi Thomas, very nice review, I like the place where you were reviewing this car, the architecture and the nature that were appearing in the background while you were driving, in this beautiful Autumn. Like always, Kia is assuring generation after generation, their principal which is The Power To Surprise! I like this car as well, but I prefer the petrol engine exterior design of the front grille as a function for the air intake, and seeing it closed here looks like if you closed a window with a cartoon which doesn't give a nice look! Like something which is suppressing the car to be beautiful the way it should be! Like if someone blocked its mouth with masking tape! I don't know how to say it! The interior is very successful and very contemporary and suits the young generation taste! Anyway, personally I believe KIA & Hyundai will takeover all cars in the very near future like Samsung mobiles did with all other brands that were great once! :)
+Walid Khalaf hehe the cartoon window :)
Love the reviews, keep up the good work !
we'll do and it would be awesome if you would keep supporting Autogefuehl
Good review Thomas. But I think the KIA EV is a compromise, because there are one minor adaptation in correlation to the fuel KIA. It is not possible to realise all benefits which are possible with E-car driven engine. The best way will be to start with the battery and design the car around them. Like the new OPEL Ampera E. Regarding Autobahn driving, it is the same as for fuel cars, if you drive faster you will need much more fuel...but naturally with low battery range, you will get nervous much earlier ;-)) Cheers DrDuu
Once again Tomas, awesome review, always a pleasure watch these in depth reviews.
A question: are you going to test the Hyundai IONIQ Electric soon?
+U Cosmonauta thx! No schedule yet but we ll do that at some point
Love the review Thomas, it also convinces me electric cars are really just better then people think, and maybe soon better then today's reliable conbustion engine cars.
+Leon Swier 👌
Could you please include your consumption in EV reviews? (kWh/100km) That way the running costs can be easily calculated, especially with our more expensive electricity prices in Germany. Also, how much did you pay at the charging station, is it cheaper than at home?
hey Dave, how would you measure the kWh consumption ?
To be super precise, you would do the same as in a gasoline/diesel vehicle: measure the total distance traveled divided by the amount of energy used to charge the vehicle back to 100%. If you only use charging stations, they usually tell you how much you used. BUT it will probably suffice to just report what the trip computer says, just scroll through the different options and you should see it. Every electric car I have driven, including the cheap ones: smart for two electric and Renault Zoe, will show the amount of electricity consumed in kWh/100km or watt/km. This is super convenient because we can multiply the consumption per 100km by the kWh price and compare that to how much it would cost compared to a diesel/gas car. :)
Why do so many electric cars look like toys? I see no need to design electric cars differently compared to regular internal combustion vehicles.
That aside, i actually drove in both this and the Zoe and i have to say i was pleasantly surprised by both!
Jan Šinkovec there have been i. c. e. cars with this look
It was an ICE car before this EV version, looks great IMHO but you know design like/dislike
e-Golf does this great, so much so I felt I needed to spruce mine up a bit to let people know they even made an EV!
Thomas, which ride did u prefer? The VW beetle Dune or this one?
Quite different cars :)
I do have a good memory of the 1st generation of this model (fuel car) because my friends had one and whe even packed there 4 people and all stuff for our ski holidays (900 km travel in one direction). But the materials inside were poor quality and worn out very soon. This 2nd generation looks diffrenet inside and from the back but I don't like the design. I think it's time for KIA to make a new edition of this model. And the electric car should look even more futuristic - in my opinion of course.
Could you please pay attention to the new hybrid model of Toyota CH-R, which you've already presented from Paris car show and maybe make a review in a near future? :)
+Te Za thanks for the feedback will do!
Hi @Autogefühl could you do review of 2020 e soul , please?
Thomas what would be your choice 30kw Nissan Leaf or 30kw Kia Soul ?
tough one, didnt drive the all-new models yet!
@@autogefuehl Thomas probabley did not make it clear i was talking about 2016/17 models which you have done reviews on
Hi, Thomas great ev review as most of Autogefühl!! I am looking ahead for a Thomas Reviews of the new BMW i3 94ah Rex I just got. I know Autogefuehl already did a great i3 review a few years ago but, although a great review from your colleage.. I like more Thomas´s Reviews.
My brother just order what he calls a Thomas´s Cayman 718..hahaha!! That´s because he fall in love with the configuration of the unit you review recently on Cayman 718 so he has chosen Graphite blue Metalic as exterior colour and also and more important "...The best Porsche interior combination ever..." blue-crayon sport-text interior :), of course... "with not animal skin interior surface..." :)
thanks man! lets see what we can do :)
very nice with you bro best regards :)
It may be helpful if we could know how much electric power is being used by the electric heat devices and the electric a/c. The biggest factor of range is the driver IMHO. Very comprehensive review Thomas, thank you.
+hermitld thanks! Not sure how to find out
Which color is this?
Nice Review as always. I am Looking forward to next Year. There many interesting new cars to come out. I am very happy about the Channel, it is already a Part of my life which i dont Want to miss. Sitting here with a Cup of coffee in the Morning and enjoying your new Videos. Awesome!
I really like that you are reviewing every car with this great passion and honestly I was Last week at the new Mercedes Store in Frankfurt and I was really interested in the Facelift Version of the CLA and i found Myself doing the door closing soundcheck^^ haha
I have searched for a Review of it on your channel but i have Not found one. Is there a Chance you are doing one maybe of the all new CLA Version when its comming out?
I really wish that you can keep up thos amazing work for us! Thank you! ^^ #FanBoy
Ps.: I am sorry, but i am way to much amazed of all the Love you pur in every single review, just wow!
+SuperAless112 love it! Yes we ll take care of the cla, but that might take a while
No problem Thomas!
Have you thought about something like a "Sendeplan"?
+SuperAless112 we do have that for patreon supporters
Time stamps please Thomas otherwise great review well done
plz test also the new 204 PS Kia Soul
Thomasz, it feels like you were very kind with the fit and finish. No need to reexplain EV driving in every video I guess (EV just make more sense in every regard).
What about safety features? AEB, ACC etc
#onepedaldriving at 27:39 you say "you see"... no we don't ;) extra camera is needed to see the cluster.
Soundproofing isn't just about engine/motor: what about tire noise, wind noise; and just exterior noises... Judging its quality on highway is irrelevant: you don't hear engines in modern cars at stable high speed.
"300 to 400km of range a lot of new vehicules already have" ... advertised in controlled environnment, I wouldn't expect the Opel eAmpera to give 400km in similar condition as your test drive ;)
Surprised why there's so much stuff in the engine compartment (motors are much smaller than engine); also why the need for hood with dampers, who needs to open the hood on EV?
Also EV doesn't mean just city-car; that's also great for anyone country-side that doesn't need highways/autobahn for their daily commutes.
Perfect in depth video, like usual from you! I looking forward to the full review of Hyundai Ioniq electric! Thanks
+Johann Lindauer 👍
Very interesting car! This is future and it's closer that someone thinks. I would like to see more similar cars. Maybe i can sugest that you grab Hyundai IONIQ for your next test. And maybe I would like to hear your opinion about cars and everything that comes along with some more attitude. Grear job!
+drugari23 👌
+drugari23 👌
What about the OPTIMA PHEV?
we got a short piece of that inside our optima sportswagon review: ruclips.net/video/Qb92P99fdzU/видео.html
Great review Thomas. Seems a very practicable and versatile car, but range and charging point limitations might be a problem. Hybrid cars seem to be a better option at the moment.
yeah I think u need 300/400 km range then its fine
Andrew K, NI UK new Opel Ampera EV Chevy Bolt probably better. the Rex BMW i3 is the only plugin hybrid that's not worse than diesel equivalent in real world mpg (total energy usage not fake electrical energy us free nonsense).
Dear Thomas,
Im thinking of buying the Peugeot 3008. Because i was disappointed by the Audi Q5. And im wondering will you do a review pretty soon? Because im not sure witch engine to buy. The 1.2 is good but i hear problems are maybe with the 1.6. I love the looks on the inside and outside. I dont like the asian looks of cars.
+Mourik131 we do have a video of that already, yt search autogefuehl peugeot 3008
world needs more EVs!
can you do the new Hyundai EV as well?
we ll try
Are you going to do tests on Tesla Model S/X?
Mar0yzs Hi I think he already did the review of the model s pre facelift but I thing they never did the test on the model X
+Mar0yzs youtube search autogefuehl tesla model s / x
EVs should be shaped like the most slick and modern cars possible and not like a brick. The Soul EV is probably another EV which achieves 80-100 miles if driven at speeds lower than ICE cars.
The range still isn't big enough on these electrics. Either they need to improve the batteries or invest in hydrogen cell technology. I like the Soul's design - it's a bit different - utilitarian but trendy.
hydrogen cell is a dead technology...if you want to carry a hydrogen bomb around in your car...
battery's are getting better and charging speeds are getting better who needs the added complexity of a hydrogen cell ?
No Animals were killed for those seats, they are made of Synthetic Leather just an Fyi. The seats come in Bio-fabric cloth and Synthetic Leather. The Q7 is ugly. the range always shows very pessimistic, you get way more most of the time, except for hwy speeds 100-120 k are more precise. In my experience.
thanks for the information, that sounds great! The price list didnt say so, it explicitly said animal skin. Do you have any sources I can consider? Maybe it is also a market difference.
Where I live and drive the Soul EV Toronto, Canada (North American Market) the ratings are different then Europe. How ever the vehicle has an Identical battery, power train, and aerodynamics. So suffice it to say its the same, but here is my official Source www.kia.ca/build-and-price-kia#0. Build a Soul EV then at the bottom of the page is the soul ev.pdf with all the specifications is there to download. Also here is another source. www.kia.ca/soulev?sourceid=abtest-b-nav
Autogefühl I was told by Kia Canada contact us email options the interior is supposed to be made of 80% recycled materials
Very interesting. German price list and configurator says that the inner parts are leather, the outer parts leatherette. But i ll re-check with the product marketing, as it is very strange: Both seats look the same.
I agree this is getting stranger as we dig deeper, but it makes sense that they said 80% recycled or recyclable material. So if the strong parts needed to be leather for structural reasons 20%, the the outside 80% was leatherette sounds logical.
All electric cars should have transmissions like a DCT on each wheel.
A 2 or 3 speed DCT at least as an option would be good for say going 80-140 km/h and would also increase acceleration and efficiency.
No it would not. Changing the ratio does not change of work the system must do to push the car. You addresing this from combustion engine filosophy. Electric motor is very efficient and torque in *all* it's rpm range *compared* to combustion engine. Gearbox is just another s..t part which can break and also adds weight/price to the system. Adding gearbox would not add efficiency to the system. Adding one fixed good ratio solves all the problems and simplifys system. For example going 140km/h motor is spining 6000rpm, but it doesn't mean that at 3000rpm and 140km/h this motor would have better efficiency. Actually it could be even worse.
Okay I might have mixed that up that's right, What I actually wanted to say is that as far as I understand electric motors for example in the Teslas have peak torque at low rpm and the higher they rev the more torque and eventually power they lose and higher rpms also mean more friction to me therefore less efficency
Looking at efficency charts they seem to have a peak efficency in the middle of their rpm range but maintain very high efficency
Friction in motor is minimal. It is only 2 bearings. Maybe rotor spining in air but that is so minimal compared to gearbox and added weight penalty and price. It is just not worth it in such car. Remember that power = torque*rpm. So if you lower to much rpm you will lose also power. The motor will not be able to handle power the car needs to sustain 140km/h. Yes ofcourse there is rpm regions in every motor. But it is not so huge that you could avoid gearbox. And Rimac is on limit of the system. If you pushing 400kW power to the motor and have eficiency of 85%. That 15% is 60kW of power that's needs to be cooled. So they are doing every possible way to handle it extremely correctly in every way.
F EV 69 really ?
Sooo... about that licence plate.
F**k Electric Vehicles 69
FLAMINGMOH(Mohawesome) XD
Tzzz, früher hat als schlechten Scherz gesagt "Atomstrom, wieso? Der Strom kommt bei mir aus der Steckdose!" Heute plappern viele so etwas ersthaft: es ist echt gut für die Stadt, wenn an den Kreuzungen keine Abgase mehr aus dem Auspuff kommen. Also Sie (und viele andere) vergleichen 1 Elektro-Auto mit hunderten bzw. tausenden Verbrennern im Stadtverkehr. Ein einzelner Benziner oder Diesel hat auch keinerlei Effekt auf die Luftqualität für Anwohner in einer Stadt. Würden jetzt aber tausende Elektroautos durch unsere Städte fahren, wo kommt dann der ganze Strom her? Ja, ja, aus der Steckdose. In Deutschland jedenfalls wird noch der größte Teil des Stromes aus Kohle (und Öl und Gas) gewonnen und auch diese Kraftwerke müssten ihre Leistung hoch fahren, wenn nun ganz schnell viele mal eben E-Auto fahren. Dann kommt der Abgas- Dreck halt aus Schornsteinen am Stadtrand und nicht mehr aus Auspuffen, man kann es dann nur nicht so gut sehen, etwas besser verteilt die Abgase, aber sie sind sehr wohl dann vermehrt da. Aber was man nicht sieht, gibt es nicht, stimmt's? Messungen bestätigen aber, dass sich Kraftwerks-Schadstoffe nach einer gewissen Flugzeit dann eben an gewissen Berghängen in hoher Konzentration wieder finden. Mich ärgert einfach, dass hier einzelne E-Autos mit der Masse von Verbrennern verglichen werden und nicht die Masse der Verbrenner mit einer ebenso großen Masse an E-Autos. Einfach dämlich solche Vergleiche. Frag doch mal die Leute, die bei Braunkohle- Gruben oder Kraftwerken wohnen, wie es denen geht... Klar, können auch noch mehr Windräder gebaut werden, aber nicht so viel in den nächsten 10 Jahren, dass der Kohleanteil stark reduziert wird + ein stark steigender Strombedarf von theoretisch aufkommenden E-Autos gedeckt würde. Ein bisschen natürlich schon, ich will nicht alles schlecht reden. Mich stört nur wie gesagt der Vergleich von einem (oder einer Hand voll E-Autos) mit ...(wie gesagt), die scheinbar mangels Auspuff die Stadtluft besser machen.
Es ist eine Frage der Speicherung. An manchen Tagen produziert Deutschland 150 % des Stromes (also mehr als benötigt wird) aus regenerativen Energien, und wir müssen den Strom nicht nur verschenken, sondern sogar dafür bezahlen, dass er in andere Netze gepumpt wird. Dafür laufen dann an anderen Tagen die Kohle- und Atomkraftwerke, wenn der Wind nicht weht. Das ist das Dilemma. Lösung: Gute Energiespeicher.
Prius remains the queen of EVs. best range.
Wael Mkawer technically the Prius is a hybrid. The Prius Prime (plug-in) only gets 25 miles of electric only range.
we eat a lot of meat on earth and to optimize Oure resources we need to use all off the animal instead off throwing the skin away.
Thank you for taking interest in this very important topic!
We have researched this issue for many years now so please take your time to go through our extensive resources stated below as they answer every single question we have yet received concerning this matter.
At Autogefühl, we have already received several thousands (!) comments, messages and mails that more and more people want to combine enjoying their car with reducing the environmental impact at the same time. We believe that sustainable luxury is possible or at least we should do everything to support that. Those many thousand people confirming this trend, motivate us to give you the most authentic information and background on the product parts. It is not about what you bought in the past, and it is not about blaming anyone, it is about what you decide in the future and what you can decide and influence as a customer. So we want you to have all information that you need for a decision you later enjoy and like best yourself.
Check out our special video addressing car CEOs as a first summary and also see conditions of animal skin production:
ruclips.net/video/LNSUzZXzpdc/видео.html
List of practical reasons against animal skin seats:
1. animal skin seats are often sold as an expensive option, by going for base trim level seats you can save a lot of money and get a better price-performance-deal (often the manufacturers claim that animal leather is top of luxury because they can earn the best money with it)
2. animal skin seats get hot in summer and you stick to the seat, probably you need seat cooling
3. they get very cold in winter and you need seat heating
4. on cloth or microfibre surfaces, you basically don’t need seat heating nor cooling
5. animal skin seats wear out very fast and look like an old sofa
6. if you want leather look or need seats that can be wiped clean easier, the leatherette (faux leather) surfaces are meanwhile highly evolved and it is possible that it feels even softer and better than anything else (See our Tesla Model X review ruclips.net/video/y2wNGFKa4M0/видео.html) So Tesla shows a good example for that
7. More manufacturer names for their good alternatives: Mercedes MBTex/Artico for leatherette, Dinamica for microfibre. BMW Sensatec, Toyota Sof-Tex, Lexus Nu-Luxe (all faux leather)
To the environmental reasons:
1. The way the cows and other intelligent and social animals are raised and held are not according to the basic values that we all share (also see videos below)
2. The factory farming industry can be accounted for at least 40 % of climate emissions and thus is (according to numerous sources you can look up) the number one reason for climate change and environmental destruction. It is the number one reason for deforestation, two thirds of all agricultural land on earth is used for growing animal food crops. If you would feed humans directly by using the agricultural land, you could produce much more food for everyone. See this interesting essay for more on climate emissions background: www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf
3. It is not only cows who are suffering, but also the environment and to a big part also humans. Think of slavery-like working conditions in slaughterhouses (there are plenty of documentaries about this) or think of chemically altered drinking water in animal skin production villages as also seen in the video footage.
4. The discussion, for which body part the cow is killed first, is very patronizing. But if you really think it would be important why someone gets killed in first place: There are many productions where the cow is killed for the skin first, sometimes even while still being (part-)alive, the skin is the most profitable single part of the body.
5. So even if a cow gets theoretically killed for meat first, in every case you give additional money to an industry that relies on killing, pollutes the environment and harms people with chemicals. Let's say you are standing at the meat counter. And you ask for the leg of the cow. The butcher tells you: "You can eat that without worrying, the cow was slaughtered for the neck first". The next customer demands the neck. The butcher tells him: "It's not your fault, the cow was slaughtered for the belly". A the next customer demands the hide, what answer does he get? You see, that argument of "byproduct" comes from the meat and leather industry to cover up that you contribute to killing no matter which part of the body you buy.
6. To the often said argument, animal skin would just be a byproduct, please google/youtube "leather is not a byproduct" you will find plenty of information. A good overview on all those issues can also be found here: adaptt.org/
To “But leatherette is not sustainable due to petrochemical production”
1. Indeed some fabrics and micro fibres are oil based, however most oil is spent on energy production, heating and fuel. The share of oil used for artificial cloth etc. is very very small.
2. If you look at the whole production process, the leatherette is way more sustainable than the leather produce.
3. The best to-come solution are indeed plant-based materials like Pinatex (based on pineapple leaves) or new materials based on mycelia (roots of mushrooms) or other innovative natural products. That’s the future.
More special video episodes:
1. A initial special video from Autogefühl considering the use of leather can be found here: ruclips.net/video/8f91KgbVbJQ/видео.html
2. And another one right here: ruclips.net/video/tMNgcLE0LDU/видео.html
3. Furthermore, you’ll find the footage of leather production also here, where people are walking in chemicals etc. and animals have to watch their friends being slaughtered in front of their eyes: ruclips.net/video/JipYvuDsI6s/видео.html
timecode starting 27:46
4. This is another video which very well summarizes the torture of leather production, shots taken at big farms which directly produce for the automotive industry: ruclips.net/video/OgHs239bAnE/видео.html
5. Please note that those videos are made by well-known journalists and cameramen who were not influenced by any animal welfare organisation, they supply their footage to the animal rights groups of course. I partly know the creators of the video footage personally and they are all authentic. You don’t have to search long to find cruel production environments anyway.
Manufacturers reactions:
We started the very first inquiry years ago, with the result that car manufacturers do not reveal their sources of animal skin AT ALL. If it all would be clean and happening without harm, why don’t they show it to us whereas they are showing us every other detail of their products? They have good reason not to, because there is no such thing as a clean animal skin production without harming cows, humans and the environment. The only thing a manufacturer can do is increase their effort for a better future, and we are helping with in-depth talks and interviews by presenting the increasing customer demand for sustainable luxury.
So meanwhile, we more often also get feedback that a lot of manufacturers are working on leather-free interiors and are aware of the situation. E.g. Bentley, Mini and Kia have started vegan car interior programmes. Tesla and Mercedes are already showing major choices for sustainable interiors, you always have to pay attention to the details when ordering, of course - and we are happy to give advice. However, much has to be done still and the Autogefuehl community is massively helping in boosting the positive change!
Help to raise awareness on this subject. Thanks!
SUVs and cross overs have so many downsides that seem to be rarely mentioned in reviews. Sitting higher means more aerodynamic drag which takes up 80% of energy consumption at just 100km/h (60mph). Then even at lower speeds the excessive weight/obese nature of these cars affects acceleration, energy consumption and rolling resistance. If you buy an EV or PHEV version the eco credentials are just not really there. Bigger means more resources used up. Even transporters and breakdown vehicles have to grow in size to cope. The battery actually adds to the weight problem. This also increases particulate pollution from road dust. Sure if you really need to carry 7 people everywhere, everyday or are a farmer then fine, but most cars carry just one adult. Then there's road space - urban on Street parking becomes more difficult, the roads become narrower and traffic flow us reduced. Children are more easily hidden between parked cars and the higher bonnet/hood line of SUVs means the driver doesn't see the child trying to cross the road as easily as lower cars. At T junctions there is less chance of filtering cars (in USA turning right on red). Cyclists get reduced space, the gaps get smaller and this means collisions are more likely. it also means less air space in urban congestion so pollution get trapped and more intense for pedestrians and cyclists. The higher and now blighter LED headlamps shine straight into the normal car driver's live in sight in the rear view mirror, etc, etc...... supersize me culture gone mad!
This car looks really not that good. Rear part is not good, interior is very old fashioned, poor. Dislike.
full lenght full hd full screen heuh no... full hd full lenght and full screen. heihh noo full hd full screen and full lenght. ok pfeewww
Kia have the worst interior door handles
Looks cheap and old.. but it isn't.