Charging the Kia EV6 electric sport utility vehicle

What drivers need to know about the Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 is an all-electric, compact crossover SUV with an attractive entry price. Following the Kia EV6 release date, it’s received high accolades from the electric vehicle community. It’s comparable to other crossovers, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Volkswagen I.D.4, and its cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Tesla Model Y is similar but pricier.

 

The $40,900 base version, the EV6 Light, is equipped with a 58 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and rear-wheel drive. Moving up the spectrum, the Wind ($47,000) and Kia EV6 GT-Line models get a longer range 77.4 kWh battery and are available either with rear- or all-wheel drive. The First Edition ($58,500) is a fully optioned model with 320 horsepower, a larger battery, and all-wheel drive. All 1,500 examples of the First Edition model have been reserved. Features include an ultra-wide sunroof and leather-like vegan seats.

 

The EV6 is not primarily a performance car, though it will have impressive off-the-line performance and be available in high-speed versions. Kia will later introduce a fast EV6 GT capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That contrasts with 7.2 seconds for the Wind and 8 seconds for the base model. The Light and Wind both have top speeds of 115 miles per hour and are rated at 117 MPGe. The entry model can’t tow, but the Wind trim and above have a towing capacity that can reach up to 2,000 pounds.

 

The EV6’s interior is dominated by a large, floating center console that offers controls for features such as heated seats. A pair of 12.3-inch screens with a touch-sensitive display for everyday functions. Another plus of the EV6 is the standard “Drivewise” safety suite, including surround-view monitor, highway driving assist, front and rear blind-spot collision avoidance, and head-up display. There’s even remote smart parking assist.

 


 
 

Charging the Kia EV6

With the 58-kWh battery, the EPA says the Kia EV6 range is impressive. It can travel 232 miles on a single charge of the 816-pound battery. With the 77.4 kWh battery (weighing 1,052 pounds) in the Wind and above versions, the EPA estimated range is up to 310 miles.

 

The Light and Wind models have 11 kilowatt onboard chargers, with the former taking the car from 10 to 100 percent charged in about seven hours. In addition, the EV6 comes with 1,000 hours of complimentary charging at Electrify America stations.

 

To take full advantage of fast home charging, EV6 owners will want to install a 48-amp home EV charger, such as the JuiceBox 48®, which has a standard J1772 plug that works with any electric vehicle on the market.

 

Because the average commuting time in the U.S. is only 26.4 miles, most Kia EV6 owners will not fully deplete their battery in a day of driving and may charge only an hour or two each day.

 

The EV6 offers bidirectional charging via its vehicle-to-load charging adapter, which can power 110 volt appliances. For instance, owners can run a refrigerator for more than 300 hours. A discharge limit can be set if used for tailgating, so the car retains enough power to get home.

 

Some Kia EV drivers can also take advantage of a special offer. A technician summoned by Kia’s Currently app will visit the owner’s home and hook up the car with a charge good for 50 miles of travel. It’s a pilot program currently available only in select California locations. Owners do not need to be present. Beta testers will get two free months after which, for $25, they can get two charge deliveries monthly.

Looking for a Kia EV6 charger?

 


 
 

Kia EV6 charging times & range

Make &  model
Charge rate
Battery size
Charging time on Level 1
Charge time with JuiceBox 48
Electric range
2022 Kia EV6 Standard Range
11 kW
58 kWh
1 day
7 hours
232 miles
2022-Present Kia EV6 Extended Range
11 kW
77.4 kWh
1.5 days
9 hours
206-310 miles

Level 3 DC fast charging: CCS Combo

The base model EV6 can be DC fast-charged at 250 kW with the SAE Combined Charging Connector (CCS). That’s increased to 350 kW on the Wind and upper trims. Unfortunately, the charge port is above the rear bumper, not quite as convenient as ports near the front of the car.

 

The EV6 supports both 400- and 800-volt DC fast charging, and 800 volts from a 350 kWh charger can add 210 miles of travel in less than 18 minutes (going from 10- to 80-percent state of charge). These ultra-fast chargers are not yet widely available. But when one can be found, EV6 drivers can add 62 miles in 4.5 minutes. The only other model currently capable of that rate is the Porsche Taycan.

 

Kia said last year that its EV6 has the fastest recharging in the industry—the Taycan notwithstanding. On a 2,880-mile cross-country trip from New York to Los Angeles, the car was plugged in for seven hours, 10 minutes, and one second—a record that beats a Tesla supercharger.

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Kia EV6 home charging stations

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