The CCS charging standard, which has a combination AC and DC intake connector, is what the Kia EV6 makes use of. The Type 2 connector, which is used while charging at home or at public slow and fast AC ports, fits into the top portion of the inlet. High power is transported via the upper and lower regions of the intake during rapid DC charging. The CCS charging input for the Kia EV6 is located on the off-side rear flank, which is where the car’s side and rear come together.
Depending on the network and kind of charge unit, the Kia EV6 can be charged at public points in a slow, fast, or rapid manner. Fast charging often requires a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, whereas slow charging typically calls for a 3-pin-to-Type 2. One of these cables is typically included with the vehicle. The vehicle employs a tethered CCS connector, which is a component of the charging unit, for quick charging.
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kW DC Charger
On a different day, but at the same Electrify America station, we conducted our EV6 test. Possibly by chance, the temperature was below freezing this time29 degreesas opposed to 53 degrees for the Ioniq 5. Due to the fact that we are not regular thieves, we used the “available 350-kW charger. The 30-minute session increased the anticipated range from 58 to 221 miles, increased the state of charge from 23 to 84 percent, and added 52.5 kWh for a total cost of $22.36.
As with the Ioniq 5, the charging rate increased to 130 kW after the battery’s level of charge reached 47 percent after starting out in the 70-kW range. Is there a magic number of 47 percent? Sadly, it never reached the same peak power as the Ioniq 5, even for a brief moment; perhaps this was because of the cooler weather. Its maximum power was 134.1 kW. The EV6 had been driven extensively before charging for more than an hour, just like the Ioniq 5.
Are all EVs compatible with all charging stations?
Purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) allows you to avoid costly trips to the gas station while preserving the environment and your health. The learning curve for charging, from how long it takes to how much it costs, is still present. Let’s dissect your top concerns about EV charging so that you can drive and replenish with assurance.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the battery in your specific vehicle and where and when you choose to charge, charging your EV from zero can take as little as 20 minutes or as long as 40 hours. First, it’s important to understand the three EV charging levels.
- Level 1: According to EV jargon, this refers to inserting the cord set that came with your EV into a typical 120-volt outlet (the same type you’d use for, instance, a phone charger or a lamp). The general idea is that, if you’re starting from scratch, this kind of charging takes between 40 and 50 hours. However, it’s important to remember that American automobile owners only travel 31 miles each day on average. Therefore, Level 1 might be plenty for your everyday requirements or, in a pinch, could add some miles.
- Level 2: This indicates that you are using a hardwired piece of equipment or a 220-volt outlet, the same kind that is used by large appliances like washers. You can charge from empty in this situation in between four and ten hours. Many offices and commercial parking lots have public Level 2 charging stations, but most EV owners also have this model installed in their garage so they can charge overnight. The cost of Level 2 equipment might be covered by some incentives, which is a wonderful bonus.
- Level 3: Level 3 chargers, commonly referred to as DCFC chargers or direct current fast chargers, have the quickest charging rates and can fully charge an EV in as little as 20 minutes. Although using these public charging stations is more expensive, they are especially useful for time-constrained travelers or urban drivers who can’t conveniently refuel at home. Additionally, they are accelerating. The current models being installed are typically at least three times as powerful as those that were first introduced, with some charging at 350kW. The first generation typically charged automobiles at 50kW.
Overall, there are a few additional considerations. One, you won’t frequently charge your battery from empty to full. In actuality, charging durations are shortened for EV drivers since they are much more likely to “top off” their batteries. (In general, most manufacturers advise keeping the battery charged between 20 and 80 percent of capacity to increase its lifespan.)
Of course, not all automobiles have the same battery capacity. The huge 212 kWh battery of General Motors’ 2022 all-electric Hummer could take hours longer to fully charge than the Chevy Bolt’s more modest 65 kWh battery. But even the largest EV batteries can usually be charged overnight with Level 2 charging.
Furthermore, not all batteries can absorb current at the same pace, a drawback that is particularly important for Level 3 charging. The 350kW Level 3 charging stations that are increasingly the industry standard and can provide hundreds of miles of range in about as much time as it takes to get a coffee and use the restroom are inaccessible to the first generation of EVs because they are frequently only capable of charging at 50kW.
What are the different types of EV plugs?
EVs feature unique charge terminals that resemble outlets on the vehicle. This implies that different EVs require different plug shapes. Knowing what type of plug your automobile uses is essential because not all public charging stations will work with all plug types.
All EVs sold in the United States (aside from Teslas) use a J1772 socket for Level 1 and Level 2 charging (also known as a J-plug). Except for Teslas, all American EVs utilize either CCS or CHAdeMO outlets for quick Level 3 DCFC. CCS stands for “combined charging system” and is the most prevalent. For all types of charging, including at Tesla Supercharger locations, Teslas use the same specialized plug. They also include a J1772 adaptor as standard.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Compared to the typical gas vehicle in their class, an average EV driver will save 60% on fuel expenses. However, energy is still not free, so you’ll need to do some math to figure out how much charging will cost you.
The majority of EV owners frequently charge at home, so your bill will depend on where you live and how often you charge your vehicle. The kilowatt-hour (kWh)/100 miles rate of your automobile (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon) should be multiplied by your energy rate, which you can find on your utility bill, to obtain an idea of how much it will cost you each month to charge your car at home. You will receive the cost of electricity every 100 kilometers driven.
Be aware that charging your car at night, when demand and cost for electricity are lower, can result in savings of up to 30%. You’ll pay more if you choose to use public charging stations instead of your own, especially the ultra-quick DC fast chargers.
Where are the electric vehicle charging stations near me?
There aren’t as many EV charging stations as there are gas stations, but that’s going to change. It’s encouraging that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $7.5 billion to expand the number of public charging stations by 500,000. Additionally, expect regional administrations, utilities, and private electric car charging firms like ChargePoint and Tesla to expand their networks as the market share of EVs rises. You may be able to locate at least a couple public chargers in your area even now.
To filter nearby locations by available plug types, use a public charging station app like ChargeHub, PlugShare, or Chargemap.
Remember that you may need a physical membership card or to log in with your phone because certain charging firms require you to be a member in order to recharge your EV at their stations. The GPS system in a Tesla directs you to their exclusive network of Superchargers, which are only accessible to Tesla drivers (at least for now).
Are electric vehicles worth it?
You may be sure that it will be well worth your time to decide to drive an EV and learn how to charge one: The typical EV owner saves thousands of dollars over the course of the car’s life, spares the neighborhood from poisonous exhaust emissions, and aids in the permanent phase-out of climate-destroying fossil fuels.
How quickly can a Kia EV6 be charged?
Range anxiety and charging times are false difficulties with electric automobiles, contrary to what early adopter EV enthusiasts claim. These are valid worries that, if not addressed, would prevent the expansion and widespread use of electric vehicles outside the enthusiast community.
But the market has now found a solution for both after more than a decade of false starts in the development and use of electric vehicles: extremely rapid charging.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5, which I drove and adored last year, has a corporate twin, the Kia EV6, which I was testing this week. I was truly amazed by how quickly DC fast charging can beless than 18 minutes to provide more than 200 miles of rangeand how it alters everything.
The innovative (and pricey) 800-volt architecture used by the EV6 was made possible by the enormous scale economies of the E-GMP platform, which will support the majority of the forthcoming EVs from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Competitors with slower charging 400-volt systems include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, and Polestar 2.
The rise in voltage is significant, but to understand why, we first discuss basic physics: Watts are calculated using the formula volts * amps. In plain English, it indicates that you must increase the volts, the amperage, or both in order to accelerate the charging of an electric vehicle (EV). The E-GMP platform can charge a 400-volt vehicle at the same amperage twice as quickly as an 800-volt vehicle by employing an 800-volt architecture instead of a 400-volt.
Though Tesla continues to use a 400V architecture, its Superchargers can accommodate significantly more amperage than the majority of other fast-charging locations. In order to sustain higher amperage, both the car and the charging cable require much more copper (a thicker cable, for example), alternate cooling techniques, and/or measures to prevent overheating. Tesla’s technology is either superior to that of the competition (maybe!) or the business is just a little less conservative than the rest of the sector (certainly! ), or more likely a little of both.
What is certain is that Hyundai and Kia invested a significant amount of money in the research and development of the 800-volt system, exchanging an initial financial outlay for a significantly improved product. This positions Hyundai Motor Group as a leader in the world’s transition to electric vehicles for many years to come. Hyundai and Kia are not the only luxury companies offering 800-volt EVs. Although Porsche and Audi are already selling them, the South Korean company is now the only major automaker to offer 800V vehicles.
I was astounded when I tested out a 350 kW Electrify America fast charger with my EV6. I walked into a Walmart parking lot with a 14 percent charge, swiped a credit card on a brand-new charger, and watched as electrons started to flow.
I had reached much over 200 kilowatts of charge in less than 30 seconds. According to research done by InsideEVs, that’s twice what you’d see with a Ford Mustang Mach-E, which just about manages 100 kilowatts from 10% to 40%.
My research supported Kia’s claim that the EV6 can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes, which is incredibly quick when compared to the Mach-(about E’s 45 minutes) and VW ID’s charging times.4 (about 35 minutes). I’ve given the Mach-E positive reviews on multiple occasions, however it takes approximately three times as long to charge from 10% to 80%, after which the charging rate drops precipitously to around 12 kilowatts.
Contrarily, the EV6 continued to charge at just over 100 kilowatts even after completing 80 percent of its charge cycle, which is as quickly as the Mach-E for the majority of its full charge cycle. A portion of this is attributable to Ford’s charging software’s conservative design, which, according to company engineers, was created expressly to safeguard the battery and may be loosened in the future. But now, when compared to other items in their price range, the Kia and Hyundai products are lightning-quick.
Due to the company’s Supercharger facilities, I used to suggest the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y as my go-to EVs for everyone. The Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 have risen to the top of my list of suggestions thanks to these remarkable charging speeds and a rapidly expanding network of very-high-speed third-party charging stations (Electrify America, in particular).
The time it takes to stop at a gas station, refuel, go inside for a toilet break, and choose which can of road trip Pringles you want is rapidly approaching the duration of an 18-minute charging session. With the EV6 and Ioniq 5 and whatever EVs they release next, it puts Kia and Hyundai in the front of the field.
Additionally, it puts the rest of the industry on the back foot right away, despite the fact that they’ll undoubtedly dispute it. The VW ID and Mustang Mach-E won’t be far behind. Four owners begin to gripe about how their fancy new EV recharges much more slowly while they watched a Kia roll in empty and roll out fully charged.
Nearly all EV owners engage in conversation at charging stations, sharing notes and taking an interest in different vehicles as if it were an unplanned auto show. The EV6 and Ioniq 5 also have the best chance of winning best of show by exiting first.
How much time does it take a Kia EV6 to charge at home?
- Most home charging stations offer this modest charging rate of 3 to 7 kW.
- Generally, a battery needs 8 to 24 hours to fully charge depending on the EV’s battery technology (ideal for overnight home charging).
- A dedicated circuit is needed for charging equipment, which delivers charging through a 220 volt (V), alternating-current (AC) connector. Typically, slow charging uses a regular household outlet (or a Type 2 socket).
- This equipment comes as standard on EVs and doesn’t need to be installed with charging infrastructure.
- When you purchase an electric vehicle, a charging cord for this kind of charging will be provided. A typical home plug is located on one end of the supplied cord. A connection that plugs into the vehicle is on the other end of the cable.
- 11 to 22 kW is the typical range for workplace charging stations and some public charging stations.
- Fast charging can take between 3 and 6 hours to fully charge, depending on the battery technology used in the specific model.
- Colder conditions may result in longer charging times.
- Installation of home charging or public charging equipment is required. Charging is done through a 220V, AC socket.