Charging and range

Crunch time: just how far can you go, and how easy are they to charge?

The Soul EV is the most reliable car to charge in the UK right now

Two years ago, when the Soul EV launched, its max range of 132 miles would have been competitive, but things have moved on, and the Soul EV hasn’t. More’s the pity, as it’s got a mile-munching cabin. Charging-wise the Kia is unique in that it accommodates both AC and DC (CHAdeMO) chargers, so you can use either depending on the charger available. Find a fast charger and DC will give you 80 per cent charge in just 33 minutes. Though lacking in range, the Soul EV is the most reliable car to charge; the CHAdeMO connector accounts for 36 per cent of the charging points in the UK.

Like the Kia, Hyundai’s Ioniq is a comfortable, long-distance cruiser. Yet its 174 mile range doesn’t go that far; we expected better of a new design. The charging system is a combined charger system (CCS), which is a bit like a standard AC charger with another connector underneath. These aren’t quite as common on public chargers, accounting for 25.1 per cent of charging points in the UK, so you’ll need to plan your charging in advance.

The standard battery on the Zoe gives you 149 miles range. If you opt for the new higher capacity Z.E. 40 battery, as in our test car (only available in Dynamique or Signature variants), you get a staggering 250 miles max range. The double-edged sword is that it takes 1 hour 52 minutes to ‘fast charge’ it to 80 per cent, but if you opt for the pricier Z.E 40 Quick Charge, overall range is cut slightly to 230 miles, but an 80 per cent charge takes 1 hour 5 minutes; still not super fast, mind, but the added range means you’re less likely to charge it in public. The Zoe’s Mennekes Type 2 charger is available at 29.5 per cent of UK stations, making it the second most charge-friendly option. T3