Kia also shows its future technology with the Paris unveiling of its new ‘mild hybrid’ Optima.
The Kia Optima T-Hybrid employs the current 100kW 1.7-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine and a small electric motor powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery. An innovative electric supercharger boosts torque and response at low engine speeds.
So when cruising or operating at low speeds you can drive in electric-only mode with deceleration providing battery re-charge.
Kia says lead-carbon batteries as, unlike lithium-ion batteries they require no active cooling and are easier to re-cycle at the end of their life.
A belt-driven starter generator replaces the conventional alternator in the zero emissions start/stop system.
The system is under development but Kia reckons power will be up by around 20 per-cent over a non-hybrid Optima and exhaust C02 emissions will be considerably less.
