The dreaded range anxiety that EV owners constantly face in day-to-day driving duties and that the anti-EV crowd holds over their heads like an electrified black cloud will soon ease for Kia owners. Starting this month, all new 2024 EV6 along with 2024 and 2025 EV9 models purchased will include North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapters which will greatly expand charging opportunities for owners across the United States.
Three different adapters will be made available and Kia estimates delivery of the charging devices to begin in early 2025. For those customers that purchased their Kia EV prior to September 4, they’ll be able to get their hands on an adapter as well, but it will require a purchase through an authorized dealer as of January 15th of the new year.
Key Takeaways
- New Kia EV6 and EV9 models will come with NACS adapters, increasing charge points by 83%
- Three adapter options will be available, enhancing the driving range and charging capabilities
- Kia Accsss App will locate and map charging stations to improve user experience
Adapting To The Times
The newly offered adapters will grant access to a network of over 16,500 fast chargers throughout the U.S., effectively multiplying the EV9 and 6 models’ driving range as the nation’s charging network continues to progress. Owners can choose from one of three different adapter types based on their needs. The NACS to CCS1 option, or Combined Charging System connector, is a single-phase plug commonly found in North America and often used for home charging, while Europeans rely on the CCS2 Type 2 plug, which is able to handle single and triple phase charging, offering more power delivery options. The NACS to CCS1 adapter allows current Kia EVs to fast charge via DC power.
The CCS1 to NACS version simply gives any Kia model with an NACS port the ability to charge on CCS DC chargers currently established. The third option is the J1772 to NACS adapter and this relates to home charging. The “J-plug” will allow your Kia to AC charge on any Level 2 charger, giving the end user the convenience of charging at home. Level 2 chargers use 240-volt AC electricity usually in the 6.2-19.2 kilowatts range, and are capable of fully charging an average-sized battery overnight.
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Simplifying The Search
In addition to the charger access expansion, Kia aims to further improve the EV owner experience by packing features into their Kia Accsss App, which should be available in early 2025, as those adapters begin arriving. With a software upgrade, owners can seek, locate, and map out available charging stations along their route using their smartphone or the factory infotainment screen. The app will also provide important details like open charger availability, current status, and how much is being charged before making a decision.
The new adapters are certainly a step in the right direction for Kia as they will only help convince those on the fence about purchasing an EV to make the leap, given the huge increase in available charging options come 2025.
“It’s important Kia provide our EV customers the best ownership experience possible, and offering NACS adapters is a great way to open up a vast number of charge points across North America, expanding Kia-accessible DC charge points by more than 83 percent.” -Eric Watson, VP, Sales Operations, Kia America
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