The All-Electric Kia EV6: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The All-Electric Kia EV6

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Kia Corporation, the South Korean automotive manufacturer is fast developing a portfolio of lower emission ‘eco’ vehicles, to include zero-emission battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and mild hybrids. The BEVs and PHEVs range includes:

• The all-electric Kia Niro EV
• The all-electric Kia Soul EV
• The all-electric Kia EV6
• Niro Plug-In Hybrid
• XCeed Plug-In Hybrid
• Ceed Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid
• The all-new Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The pure electric compact crossover from Kia was introduced in March 2021. It is the first EV from Kia built on a dedicated EV platform, the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform), also used by the Hyundai IONIQ5 EV.

The Kia EV6 pure electric family car has much to offer, apart from its head-turning exterior sporty coupé styling. The EV6 is available in one EV battery size (77.4 kWh), which is a decent size compared to other pure electric cars available in the market. Depending on the variant chosen, the EV6 can delivery up to 328 miles (WLTP) on a fully charged battery (RWD variant). The all-wheel drive Kia EV6 can deliver up to 314 miles.

Impressive pure electric range, but of course we need to adjust for the real-world driving conditions. For the RWD expect a zero-emission electric range up to 280 miles, while for the AWD a 265 mile range will be more realistic. Either way, the EV does offer class-leading EV range suitable for most driving needs.

Kia claims that the this new EV battery is unique to the automotive manufacturer, as the world’s first multi-channel system capable of fast charging at 800V and 400V without a separate controller.

The EV6 also offers class-leading DC charging capability. The electric SUV can be DC charged up to a whopping 350 kW. Put another way, the battery can be charged up to 80% in 18 minutes. Just enough time for a short coffee break. It is true, in that, the ultra-rapid charging infrastructure in India is still at early stages, but expect this infrastructure to develop fast. Having said that, the EV6 can be charged up to 80% in 73 minutes using a 50 kW DC charger, which are easier to find!

The Kia EV6 offers a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger as standard. For those with access to 3-phase AC charging at home or workplace, the electric vehicle (EV) can be fully charged in 7 hours and 20 minutes. However, as most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply, charging at home will take longer. Expect the EV6 to be fully charged via a dedicated residential EV charger in 12 hours and 30 minutes.

Yes, the EV6 can be charged via a 3-PIN domestic socket. However, we at e-zoomed discourage using a domestic socket for charging an electric car. For the EV6 electric SUV, it will take up to 32 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge using a household plug! We also recommend a topping up approach to EV charging. This way charging times are shorter!

There is no doubt, in that, the EV6 is a good looking electric car. But, it does not stop there. The interior is equally impressive and offers a high level of technology and features. Some of these include: 12.3″ curved driver display screen, 12.3″ curved touchscreen navigation, augmented reality head-up display, remote smart park assist (RSPA), 360° around view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, highway driving assist 2, forward collision avoidance and more.

Despite the sporty coupé roofline, the EV6 has ample room for passengers seated in the rear seats given the placement of the EV battery below the floor. The EV also offers a decent boot capacity (490 L).

In terms of performance, both the rear-wheel drive (RWD) and the all-wheel drive (AWD) variants do not disappoint, despite the additional weight of the EV battery (477.1 kg). The Kia EV6 RWD can achieve 0-62 mph in 7.3 seconds (max power: 226 bhp/ 350 Nm torque). While the Kia EV6 AWD can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds (max power: 321 bhp/ 605 Nm torque). The top speed of the EV is 114 mph.

The Kia EV6 electric car is available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Attractive exterior styling	Rear-visibility poor/ blind spots
Good pure electric range (328 miles)	Only available in one EV battery option
DC charging up to 350 kW and 11 kW AC onboard charger available as standard	All-wheel drive (AWD) not standard for all variants

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The All-Electric Kia EV6 Crossover (credit: Kia)

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Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. As an example, in India, filling a full tank of fuel for the internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata Nexon SUV will cost up to Rs 5,000 (assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 100. The Tata Nexon has a fuel tank capacity of 44 L).

In comparison, the Tata Nexon Pure Electric SUV will cost less than Rs 300 for a full EV battery charge (EV Battery size: 30.2 kWh). In India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh(unit). Therefore the cost to drive per km (or mile) in a pure electric vehicle is substantially lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	SUV (crossover)
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	Yes

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Trims (2 Options)
EV6 GT-Line (from Rs 59.95 Lakhs)
EV6 GT-Line AWD (from Rs 64.95 Lakhs)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 77.4 kWh
Charging:	350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 18 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 20 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	7 years or 100,000 miles

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1550
Width (mm):	1890
Length (mm):	4695
Wheelbase (mm):	2900
Boot Capacity (L):	490

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EV6 77.4 kWh RWD
EV Battery Capacity:	77.4 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	328 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	165
Charging:	350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 18 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 20 mins)
Top Speed:	114 mph
0-62 mph:	7.3 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	168
Max Power (bhp):	226
Torque (Nm):	350
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,985
Colours:	4
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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EV6 77.4 kWh AWD
EV Battery Capacity:	77.4 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	314 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	172
Charging:	350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 18 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 20 mins)
Top Speed:	114 mph
0-62 mph:	5.2 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	239
Max Power (bhp):	321
Torque (Nm):	605
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	2,105
Colours:	4
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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India Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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India, like many other countries, is well positioned to benefit from the shift to zero-tailpipe emission electric driving. Road transportation is a major contributor to air pollution (over 30%), choking our towns, cities and villages across India. Diesel vehicles, in particular, diesel trucks and diesel buses, are significant sources for tailpipe emissions. But given the rise in the standard of living, since liberalisation, the demand for privately owned passenger cars has increased at an unprecedented pace, further worsening the air quality. India has more than 3 crores (30 million) cars releasing tailpipe emissions on its roads!

Though we have seen some improvements in air quality during the ongoing pandemic (as a result of lower vehicle traffic), India’s shift to electric driving will be key in achieving long-term higher air quality. Of course, apart from EVs, the continued development of green and renewable energy infrastructure will be key in achieving lower long-term air pollution. India has already demonstrated global leadership in regards to large-scale solar and wind projects! Hopefully, India will replicate the success with zero-emission electric vehicles.

Despite recent announcements and support from local and national government agencies in India, the EV market is still at a nascent stage, well, at least in terms of electric cars and electric vans. Two-wheel electric scooters and three-wheel electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws) have demonstrated a strong uptake, and India is poised to become a global leader in electric scooters and electric rickshaws (e-tuk). In fact, the ubiquitous e-rickshaw commands an impressive 83% of the Indian electric vehicle market. India currently has over 15 lakhs (1.5 million) e-rickshaws, with each EV playing a role in reducing tailpipe emissions on our roads in India.

Sales of passenger electric cars is still at an early stage. In FY2021, though the market witnessed a growth of nearly 110% from the previous year, the absolute volume of cars sold was only 5,905 electric cars. Currently there are less that 15 pure electric car models available on sale in India.

Tata Motors, the biggest automotive manufacturer in India has launched the Tata Nexon electric SUV. Mahindra Electric, another leading Indian automotive manufacturer, has also launched a number of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), to include, the Mahindra eVerito electric car, Mahindra eSupro electric van and Mahindra e2o Plus compact electric car. International manufacturers, like UK based MG Motors, have also launched the MG ZS electric SUV in India. Also available are the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUV and the Hyundai Kona electric SUV.

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Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), more commonly referred to simply as, electric vehicles (EVs) or as plug-in electric cars, have come a long way over the past decade and certainly a long way over the past 100 years.

Electric vehicles came into prominence in the early 1900’s, a time when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation.  Archived black and white photographs from that period show famous avenues like Madison Avenue in New York city filled with horse-drawn carriages.  In stark contrast, a similar photograph taken a decade later of Madison Avenue showed not a single horse-drawn carriage.  Instead the avenue was filled with motor vehicles, a new invention at that time. 

We are now witnessing a similar fundamental shift in road transportation, as polluting internal combustion engines (ICE) petrol and diesel vehicles are being replaced by low-emission and zero-emission electric vehicles. In countries like the United Kingdom, a leader in e-mobility, we can expect a comprehensive replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 (UK will ban the sale of new ICE cars in 2030). The UK is not the only country that has a vision of a mass transition to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars.

Since 2011, the global electric vehicle (EV) market has increased at a year-over-year growth rate of over 50%. In 2020, according to the Global EV Outlook 2021 report, the global stock of electric vehicles (EVs) had surpassed 10 million units . In 2015, the Global stock was just over 1 million units. In 2020, Europe accounted for the largest share of new car registrations of EVs (1.4 million registered electric vehicles), followed by China (1.2 million electric vehicles). In Europe, countries like Norway, Iceland and Sweden continue to show strong leadership in the transition to electric driving. In Norway more than 75% of new cars are electric, followed by 50% in Iceland and 30% in Sweden.

However, this is not just a western phenomenon. A number of countries across the world have announced their support for electric cars, to include India. Pure electric cars are now common sightings in a number of global markets, and EV automotive manufacturers, like California based Tesla Motors are now household brands.

Traditional automotive manufactures have also shown significant commitment to the migration to electric engines, to include Volvo Cars, the Volkswagen Group, Renault, Nissan, Peugeot, Hyundai, Mercedes, Land Rover and many more. Forecast for the sale of EVs suggest up to 30 million electric vehicles to be sold before the end of the current decade.

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