Last week Kia went into more detail about its electric vehicle development and sustainability plans, presented in EV9 . concept bow this week.
As part of those details, the brand revealed that it has plans for a hydrogen fuel cell “product line” by 2028; when it plans to retire internal combustion vehicles (ICE); and some of the ways it plans to go green in its factories and materials.
The initiative is built on Plans, its initiative involves the transition to electric vehicles and mobility projects, with a $25 billion investment by the end of 2025, but it gives the master plan more than a spine lasting.
Teaser Kia Concept EV9
While that plan broadly refers to “environmentally friendly vehicles” and aims to “selectively introduce EV models in emerging markets,” last week’s announcement offered a level of spending. new period.
It is currently working towards reducing carbon emissions in “all areas of activity, from supply, logistics, vehicle manufacturing and vehicle use through to waste disposal”, with the goal of reduce CO2 emissions by 97% from 2019 levels by 2045.
Kia also now plans to use hydrogen fuel cell technology as a power source at all of its construction sites in the medium to long term, and will introduce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles starting in 2028.
A hydrogen lineup of Kia has been expected since September, when Hyundai unveiled it vision of a large-scale hydrogen fuel cell, which includes a hydrogen-powered sports car and is expected to be on par with battery-powered models by 2030.
Kia hydrogen fuel cell for manufacturing plants
On the path to being carbon neutral by 2045, Kia plans to switch to 100% renewable energy at its overseas production sites by 2030 and its South Korean sites by 2040. Solar power generation at manufacturing plants in Korea, China, USA and India will also help green its own production. And all of the vehicles Kia uses at its businesses will be electric by 2030.
Kia plans to introduce a total of 11 EVs by 2026 — including seven dedicated EVs—And in last week’s presentation, it covered what that means for various markets. The product line in Europe will be all-electric by 2035, with other major markets going all-electric by 2040. By 2045, all global markets will have made the transition.
“We acknowledge that we are part of the problem,” Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song led in a video summarizing the initiatives. “But we believe we can also play an important role in the solution.”
Kia is addressing this “mobility dilemma” in a number of ways it has.
Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song on carbon neutrality
During a week of the COP26 climate change conference, headlines dominated and a flurry of questions about companies were clearing up confusion over terms like carbon neutral, net-zero and zero- carbon, Kia emphasizes that being carbon-neutral doesn’t mean carbon-free, so it is adding a carbon offset program, which includes recycling marine plastic waste. It also targets 20% of all Kia vehicle plastic parts to be made of recycled plastic by 2030. Battery recycling and use in end-of-life systems will also be done with local partners. .
Kia has tied this new push to the “Bold for Nature” design philosophy behind the Concept EV9, which it is expected to showcase at the LA auto show on Wednesday, November 17.
To demonstrate Kia’s focus on more upmarket, the EV9’s seats and floors are made of recycled fishing net, while the seat fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and the floor is made of wool.
Teaser for Kia Concept EV9 launched on November 17, 2021
The concept also uses vegan leather for the interior, and Kia has confirmed that it plans to completely phase out the use of leather in its vehicles. It doesn’t give a target date for that.
“The EV9 concept is a clear sign of Kia’s commitment to sustainable mobility in the future,” explains Senior Vice President of Design Karim Habib, and that the tension between man and machine can be devastating. can lead to a more sustainable path forward.
With EV6 and the EV9 electric vehicle, and perhaps more on the mobility aspect of Plan S, coming soon, Kia has established a very different, greener business model – one that currently relies on process next program.
