Bam_Bam_of_Atlanta
Cadet
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
- Messages
- 19
EV KIAs - Towing, Bike Racks, Luggage Racks and such with a Hitch
Short: You can install a hitch on a EV KIA Soul and you can pull a 1000lb load an estimated 102 miles with a class 1 hitch (2000lbs/200lbs).
I believe you can use bike racks, cargo racks, and do light towing with an EV Soul with no problems.
If anyone has researched the internet on towing with an EV or even putting on a hitch, there is ZERO information out there for KIA.
There is only one person who put a hitch on a Nissan Leaf strictly for a bike rack.
I have not researched Ford, Chevy, Tesla or any others EV manufacturers.
The manufactures have never tried to install any of their hitches on an EV Soul so they do not know.
But Draw-Tite Hitches did provide pictures and frame rail spacing measurements to go by.
2 weekends ago, the rear belly pan was pulled and the frame on the rear of our cars is the same as a gas version of the Soul.
Prior to this, no one had a clue what was under there as KIA could have easily put some of the electronics there like Nissan did.
This weekend a Draw-Tite hitch was installed and the car wired for trailer lights. It requires no drilling or modifications.
As common with most all modern cars, the lighting system can NOT handle trailer lighting loads.
So a simple electrical kit was installed to put all loads on the battery. This is an industry standard.
LED lights were also used on the trailer for safety, reliability and reduced electrical loads.
Everyone knows that towing will kill the range. The only question is how bad.
A 6.9 mile hilly loop was driven and showed 3.8 miles per kW with the A/C on.
With KIAs 27 usable kilowatts, this gives 102.6 miles range on secondary roads or a loss of about 24%.
Expressway will vary a lot depending on speed, aerodynamics of your trailer/load & gross weight. This test was @ ~1000lbs.
KIA improved the aerodynamics from 0.38 to 0.35. So some may cringe at removing the rear belly pan.
I believe this will have NO effect on aerodynamics because KIA installed air dams in front of the rear axle.
This will destroy all laminar air flow and create a solid break line of turbulent airflow.
KIA also left a slot for the rear axle beam that will also destroy smooth airflow.
10-04-15 UPDATE: The boat and car were loaded up with an additional 3-400lbs and towed at 60mph.
Range dropped to 85.3 miles. The RV Park?s 50amp outlets quickly charge us back.
She is rock solid at any speed. Regenerative braking did about 98% of the stopping. Brakes were never needed even on hills.
Stability: The Soul drove normal. The steering wheel was progressively jerked harder L & R trying to induce any sign of instability.
The car stayed 100% stable. Your results can vary considerably on ?your? trailer?s stability and how ?you? load it and how fast ?you? drive.
Braking: Full brakes were applied and the Soul stopped fast, straight, and the ABS worked perfectly. Do allow for longer distances.
Power: EV cars are notorious for high torque. In fact, the EV is faster than the gasoline version. So pulling was effortless.
Water: I have NO plans to launch the boat with the battery submerged! No brainer. There are no electronics in the rear.
Nissan Leaf?s deep water test and picture: http://www.nextgreencar.com/news/652...ed-conditions/
or video @ 1? 40? http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...ety-video.html
Parts:
Hitch - Draw-Tite #24915 ? Tested as a quick 4 bolt process. 90% of the work is removing the belly pan.
- Curt #C11385 (Not tested and it has a bend in it to go around the exhaust that we do not have)
Trailer Wiring Kit ? Curt 56220 ? Tested and a little more work than a standard Soul.
- T-One #118637 (Not tested)
Safety:
This article has no information on ?How To? drive with a trailer. Safety comes first. Do YOUR research before trying to tow.
KIA?s Statements on Towing:
In the USA, KIA says that towing is not recommended, but it is also not forbidden. KIA owners say that their warranties have been honored even with transmission problems ... EV Cars have no transmission
In Europe, KIA recommends towing being limited to 550 kg/1212lbs with no brakes and 1300kgs/2866lbs with brakes.
Notes:
I found no way to run the trailer lighting power supply wire from the batt. to the rear past the main battery. However the line did run inside the rocker panel just fine. You may be able to drop the belly pan down on the driver?s side and route the wire past the main battery.
Most of my hitch accessories are made for a 2? receiver. No one makes one. So you would have to have the stock 1.25? cut off and a 2? welded on and painted.
An adaptor could also be used, but that would extend the accessory further back and increase the loads to the frame. This would mandate a reduction load carrying and stability.
FYI ? 1959 DuraCraft Run-About ? almost restored. (UPDATE: Our moderator came up with 1964 so I missed my BD Lol)
Short: You can install a hitch on a EV KIA Soul and you can pull a 1000lb load an estimated 102 miles with a class 1 hitch (2000lbs/200lbs).
I believe you can use bike racks, cargo racks, and do light towing with an EV Soul with no problems.
If anyone has researched the internet on towing with an EV or even putting on a hitch, there is ZERO information out there for KIA.
There is only one person who put a hitch on a Nissan Leaf strictly for a bike rack.
I have not researched Ford, Chevy, Tesla or any others EV manufacturers.
The manufactures have never tried to install any of their hitches on an EV Soul so they do not know.
But Draw-Tite Hitches did provide pictures and frame rail spacing measurements to go by.
2 weekends ago, the rear belly pan was pulled and the frame on the rear of our cars is the same as a gas version of the Soul.
Prior to this, no one had a clue what was under there as KIA could have easily put some of the electronics there like Nissan did.
This weekend a Draw-Tite hitch was installed and the car wired for trailer lights. It requires no drilling or modifications.
As common with most all modern cars, the lighting system can NOT handle trailer lighting loads.
So a simple electrical kit was installed to put all loads on the battery. This is an industry standard.
LED lights were also used on the trailer for safety, reliability and reduced electrical loads.
Everyone knows that towing will kill the range. The only question is how bad.
A 6.9 mile hilly loop was driven and showed 3.8 miles per kW with the A/C on.
With KIAs 27 usable kilowatts, this gives 102.6 miles range on secondary roads or a loss of about 24%.
Expressway will vary a lot depending on speed, aerodynamics of your trailer/load & gross weight. This test was @ ~1000lbs.
KIA improved the aerodynamics from 0.38 to 0.35. So some may cringe at removing the rear belly pan.
I believe this will have NO effect on aerodynamics because KIA installed air dams in front of the rear axle.
This will destroy all laminar air flow and create a solid break line of turbulent airflow.
KIA also left a slot for the rear axle beam that will also destroy smooth airflow.
10-04-15 UPDATE: The boat and car were loaded up with an additional 3-400lbs and towed at 60mph.
Range dropped to 85.3 miles. The RV Park?s 50amp outlets quickly charge us back.
She is rock solid at any speed. Regenerative braking did about 98% of the stopping. Brakes were never needed even on hills.
Stability: The Soul drove normal. The steering wheel was progressively jerked harder L & R trying to induce any sign of instability.
The car stayed 100% stable. Your results can vary considerably on ?your? trailer?s stability and how ?you? load it and how fast ?you? drive.
Braking: Full brakes were applied and the Soul stopped fast, straight, and the ABS worked perfectly. Do allow for longer distances.
Power: EV cars are notorious for high torque. In fact, the EV is faster than the gasoline version. So pulling was effortless.
Water: I have NO plans to launch the boat with the battery submerged! No brainer. There are no electronics in the rear.
Item | Pros for EV Soul VS Standard Soul | Cons for EV Soul VS Standard Soul |
Stability | Heavier car, Lower C.G., Firmer Springs & Shocks. All KIA Souls have very little rear overhang that adds to stability. | None |
Braking | Heavier car for better tow vehicle to trailer weight ratio. Regenerative braking at max setting should help & should be used. | Battery weight could add to the braking systems heat load on mountain decents if regenerative braking cannot control your speed. Super Low Roll Resistant tires do not grip as well, especially in the rain. |
Power | More torque. Gentle driving showed 3.8kW and 3.3kW @ 60mph being used ? less than left lane fast driving. | May over heat motor and/or controller if driven hard with a towing load. There is a protection circuit to reduce power, but that may reduce you to unsafe low expressway speeds. |
Water | None | Don?t do it, but Tesla cars have survived up to ~2 feet. Leaf has been proven to 1 foot/300mm at speed by Nissan. |
Clearance | The hitch will hit before the rear bumper and it is much tougher. | There is a little loss in the rear ramp angle. With the rear belly pan removed, there is a chance the bumper could hang up on something. |
or video @ 1? 40? http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...ety-video.html
Parts:
Hitch - Draw-Tite #24915 ? Tested as a quick 4 bolt process. 90% of the work is removing the belly pan.
- Curt #C11385 (Not tested and it has a bend in it to go around the exhaust that we do not have)
Trailer Wiring Kit ? Curt 56220 ? Tested and a little more work than a standard Soul.
- T-One #118637 (Not tested)
Safety:
This article has no information on ?How To? drive with a trailer. Safety comes first. Do YOUR research before trying to tow.
KIA?s Statements on Towing:
In the USA, KIA says that towing is not recommended, but it is also not forbidden. KIA owners say that their warranties have been honored even with transmission problems ... EV Cars have no transmission
In Europe, KIA recommends towing being limited to 550 kg/1212lbs with no brakes and 1300kgs/2866lbs with brakes.
Notes:
I found no way to run the trailer lighting power supply wire from the batt. to the rear past the main battery. However the line did run inside the rocker panel just fine. You may be able to drop the belly pan down on the driver?s side and route the wire past the main battery.
Most of my hitch accessories are made for a 2? receiver. No one makes one. So you would have to have the stock 1.25? cut off and a 2? welded on and painted.
An adaptor could also be used, but that would extend the accessory further back and increase the loads to the frame. This would mandate a reduction load carrying and stability.
FYI ? 1959 DuraCraft Run-About ? almost restored. (UPDATE: Our moderator came up with 1964 so I missed my BD Lol)
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