Right now, the Kia Niro is available in two flavors: a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. In the company's home market of Korea, however, there's also a fully electric variant. Its affordable price tag could make it an enticing alternative to the Chevrolet Bolt in America, but a launch date hasn't been officially announced for the US and Europe. However, a new report claims the 2019 Kia Niro EV will arrive in the US this winter. A member of the InsideEVs forums recently discovered that Kia's US website has a page dedicated to the Niro EV.

The page says the 2019 Kia Niro EV "will arrive in the US at the end of 2018," with a disclaimer saying it's expected to go on sale in winter 2018 "in select markets in limited quantities." It remains to be seen which markets Kia is referring to, but it's probably safe to assume the Niro EV will initially be introduced to the CARB states throughout the US. This would mean the Niro EV will initially be available in states including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. It's also unclear how many units will be allocated to the US. "Final EPA estimates will be released closer to Niro EV's on-sale date," Kia says.

"Actual range will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, charging practice, battery age, weather, temperature and your vehicle's condition". In Europe, the Niro EV's 39.2 kWh battery pack offers a range of over 149 miles, while the more expensive 64 kWh model offers up to 236 miles of range on a single charge. Using a fast-charger rated at 100 kW, the battery can be charged to 80 percent capacity in 54 minutes. An electric motor delivers 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque, making the Niro EV significantly more powerful than the Niro's hybrid counterparts.