11:39 PM
Kia will debut the next generation of its fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) system at the L.A. auto show next week. Previous FCEV powertrains were built into the small Sportage sport ute, but Kia has chosen the larger Borrego to showcase its newest setup.
Improvements compared with the previous system include an additional 47 hp--bumping fuel-cell output to 154 hp--and a new 450-volt super capacitor, which is good for another 134 hp. Thanks to the super capacitor, driving range increases and enables the car to start in subzero temperatures for year-round usability.
Top speed of the Borrego FCEV is 100 mph, and Kia claims a best-in-class system efficiency of 62 percent, which equates to a combined EPA rating of 54 mpg. Two or three hydrogen tanks can be outfitted on the Borrego, and the top range is roughly 426 miles.
Kia attempts to keep weight in check by using aluminum for various body components, but the Borrego FCEV still checks in at 4,960 pounds. The 0-to-60-mph time is 12.8 seconds.
