2021 KIA NIRO Owners Manual

H44
WARNING - Battery elec-
trolyte
As with all batteries, avoid fluid
contact with the Hybrid battery.
If the battery is damaged and if
electrolyte comes in contact
with your body, clothes or eyes,
immediately flush with a large
quantity of fresh water and seek
medical attention.
WARNING - After market
battery charger
Do not use an after-market bat-
tery charger to charge the
Hybrid battery. Doing so may
result in death or serious injury.
WARNING - High Waters
Avoid high waters as this may
result in your vehicle becom-
ing saturated with water and
could compromise the high
voltage components.
Do not touch any of the high
voltage components within
your vehicle if your vehicle
has been submerged in water
equal to half of the vehicle
height. Touching high voltage
components once submerged
in water could result in severe
burns or electric shock that
could result in death or seri-
ous injury.
ODEQ016004
MotorCAUTION - High Voltage
Battery Damage
When loading your vehicle, be
careful of transporting items in
a manner that could damage the
high voltage battery. Do not
store items on top of the high
voltage battery or overload the
trunk area. Such actions may
ultimately damage the high volt-
age battery unit.
CAUTION - Carrying
Liquids in Trunk
Do not load large amounts of
liquid in open containers in the
vehicle. If spilled onto the HEV
battery, the liquid may cause a
short or further damage to the
battery.
COMPONENTS OF THE HYBRID/PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE (CONT.)

H45
✽ ✽
NOTICE - Prolonged parking
Prolonged parking might cause bat-
tery discharge and operation failure
due to natural discharge. Driving
the vehicle approximately once
every 2 months, more than 9 miles
(15 km) is recommended. The bat-
tery will be charged automatically
when driving the vehicle.
WARNING - Exposure to
High Voltage
High voltage in the hybrid bat-
tery system is very dangerous
and can cause severe burns
and electric shock. This may
result in serious injury or death.
For your safety, never touch,
replace, dismantle or remove
any portion of the hybrid bat-
tery system including compo-
nents, cables and connectors.
WARNING - Use of Water
or Liquids
If water or liquids come into
contact with the hybrid system
components, and you are also
in contact with the water, severe
injury or death due to electrocu-
tion may occur.
WARNING - Hot
Components
When the hybrid battery system
operates, the HEV battery system
can be hot. Heat burns may result
from touching even insulated
components of the HEV system.
CAUTION - Cleaning
Engine
When you clean the engine com-
partment, do not wash using
water. Water may cause electric
arcing to occur and damage elec-
tronic parts and components.

H46
Safety plugSome Special Features of the
Hybrid Vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles sound different than
gasoline engine vehicles. When the
hybrid system operates, you may
hear a sound from the hybrid battery
system behind the rear seat. If you
apply the accelerator pedal rapidly,
you may hear a sound. When you
apply the brake pedal, you may hear
a sound from the regenerative brake
system. When the hybrid system is
turned off or on, you may hear a
sound in the engine compartment. If
you depress the brake pedal repeat-
edly when the hybrid system is
turned on, you may hear a sound in
the engine compartment. None of
these sounds indicate a problem.
They are characteristics of hybrid
vehicles.
When the hybrid system is turned on,
the engine may run. This does not
indicate a malfunction. If the " "
symbol is on, the hybrid system is
operating. Even if the gasoline engine
is off, you can operate the vehicle.
WARNING - Safety Plug
Never touch the safety plug.
The safety plug is attached to
the high voltage hybrid battery
system. Touching the safety
plug may result in death.
Service personnel should fol-
low the appropriate procedures
in the service manual.
ODEQ016006
■Hybrid
ODEPQ017038
■Plug-in Hybrid
COMPONENTS OF THE HYBRID/PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE (CONT.)

H47
The HEV system may emit electro-
magnetic waves which can affect the
performance of electronic devices
appliances, such as laptop comput-
ers, which are not part of the vehicle
design.
If you park the vehicle for a long time,
the hybrid system will discharge. You
need to drive the vehicle approximate-
ly once every 2 months, more than 9
miles (15 km) is recommended.
When you start the hybrid system in
the "P" transmission position, the
" " symbol is illuminated in the
cluster. The driver can drive the vehi-
cle even if the engine is stopped.Virtual Engine Sound System
(VESS)
The Virtual Engine Sound System
generates engine sound for pedestri-
ans to hear vehicle sound because
there is limited sound while electric
motor power is used.
If the vehicle is moving at low
speed, the VESS will operate.
When the gear is shifted to R
(Reverse), an additional warning
sound will be heard.
WARNING - Turning off
HEV system
When you leave the vehicle, you
should turn off the hybrid sys-
tem. If you depress the acceler-
ator pedal by mistake and the
vehicle is not in the "P" posi-
tion, the vehicle will accelerate.
This may result in serious injury
or death.

H48
High Voltage Battery Air Intake
The hybrid battery air intake is locat-
ed on bottom and side of the rear
seats. The air intake cools down the
hybrid battery. When the hybrid bat-
tery air intake is blocked, the hybrid
battery may be overheated. Do not
obstruct the air intake with any other
objects.
If An Accident Occurs
Avoid the engine compartment.
Avoid making contact with any
orange or high voltage wires,
cables, or components.
Assume that a high voltage compo-
nent is exposed and move away from
the vehicle as promptly as possible.
Refer to Chapter 7 for towing infor-
mation.WARNING - Air Intake
Blocking the air intake behind
the rear seats may damage
the HEV battery.
Do not allow any water into
the air intake even when
cleaning. If any water enters
the air intake, the Hybrid bat-
tery may cause an electric
shock which can cause seri-
ous injury or death due to
electrocution.
ODEQ016007
WARNING
-
Interference with electron-
ic medical devices
Electromagnetic waves that are
generated from the charger can
impact medical electric devices
such as an implantable cardiac
pacemaker. When using such
medical electric devices, ask
your medical professional and
the device manufacturer
whether charging your electric
vehicle will impact the operation
of the medical electric devices.
COMPONENTS OF THE HYBRID/PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE (CONT.)

H49
After parking the vehicle, shift the
transmission into "P" position. Turn
off the hybrid system by pushing
the Engine Start/Stop button.
For your safety, do not touch high
voltage cables, connectors and
package modules. High Voltage
components are orange in color.
Exposed cables or wires may be
visible inside or outside of the vehi-
cle. Never touch the wires or
cables, because an electrical
shock may occur causing injury or
death.If a vehicle accident occurs:
1.Stop the vehicle and shift the trans-
mission into "P" position and then
depress the parking brake.
2.Turn off the Hybrid system by
pushing the Engine Start/Stop
Button.
3.Step away from the vehicle and go
to a safe place.
4.Call emergency services for help
and let them know the vehicle is a
Hybrid vehicle.
Do not touch high voltage cables,
connectors and package modules.
High voltage components are
orange in color.
Exposed cables or wires may be vis-
ible inside or outside of the vehicle.
Never touch the wires or cables,
because an electrical shock may
occur causing injury or death.
WARNING
If a small scale fire occurs,
use a fire extinguisher (ABC,
BC) that is meant for electrical
fires.
If it is impossible to extin-
guish the fire in the early
stage, remain a safe distance
from the vehicle and immedi-
ately call your local fire emer-
gency responders. Also,
advise them that a hybrid
vehicle is involved.
If the fire spreads to the high
voltage battery, large amount
of water is needed to put out
the fire.
Using small amount of water
or fire extinguishers not
meant for electrical fires
could cause serious injury or
death from electrical shocks.
If you need towing, refer to
chapter 6.

H50
When the hybrid vehicle shuts
off
When the high voltage battery or 12-
volt battery discharges, or fuel tank is
empty, the hybrid system may not
operate.
If the Hybrid system stops operating
while the vehicle is moving, reduce
the vehicle speed gradually, pull your
vehicle off the road to a safe area,
and shift the transmission in to Park
(P) position and;
1. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
2. Set the start button at OFF, and try
to start the Hybrid system by
applying the brake pedal and
pushing the start button.
3. If the Hybrid system will not oper-
ate, refer to "EMERGENCY
STARTING" in chapter 6.
Before you try to jump start the vehi-
cle, confirm the fuel level. If the fuel
level is low add more fuel before
attempting as emergency start.
WARNING
If submersion in water occurs:
If your vehicle was flooded and
has soaked carpeting or water
on the flooring, you should not
try to start the Hybrid system.
Never touch the high voltage
cables, connectors or package
modules, because an electrical
shock may occur causing injury
or death. High Voltage cables
are orange in color.
If this occurs. have the vehicle
towed to and inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING - Vehicle
Accident
Never touch electric wires or
cable. If exposed electric wires
or cables are visible inside or
outside of your vehicle, an elec-
tric shock may occur.
WARNING - Putting out
fire
Never use a small quantity of
water to put out a fire in your
vehicle. If a fire occurs, evacu-
ate the car immediately and
contact the fire department.
COMPONENTS OF THE HYBRID/PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE (CONT.)

Introduction
Fuel requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
• Gasoline containing alcohol and methanol . . . . . . . . . 1-2
• Do not use methanol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
• Fuel additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
• Operation in foreign countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Vehicle break-in process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
HEV/PHEV powertrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Vehicle data collection and event data recorders. . 1-6
1