Going Electric.

When it comes to driving an electric car, the range you get can be influenced by several factors, just like with a traditional combustion engine. The size of the battery and your driving style can both play a significant role in determining your overall range. Driving on the motorway impacts your driving range: lowering your speed can even save you from stopping for a charge, making your overall trip quicker. With Kia Connect (2) app, you can pre-condition your cabin to create the energy saving environment and make sure air conditioning and other electronic equipment won’t put additional strain on your battery.

When it comes to charging your electric vehicle, you have plenty of options for where you can do this – depending on what fits in most conveniently with your daily routine and suits your needs at any given time. In fact, as you’ll either be charging at home, your place of work, or a charging station nearby, you won’t have to drive far out of your way – as is often the case with refueling at a gas station.

You also have options when it comes to how fast you charge. And although there are various charging and connector types that may seem a little confusing at first, the actual process of plugging in an Electric Vehicle (EV) to charge is as quick and simple as charging up your mobile phone.

Considering the variety of electric cars and charging stations out there, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the time involved in Electric Vehicle (EV) charging can vary too. Overall charging time will depend on your electric vehicle specification and the charging mode you use. The period an electric car’s battery will take to recharge is determined by how many kilowatts (kW) the charging station can provide and how many your car can accept. The higher the battery wattage, the faster your electric vehicle will be charged up.

Once you know the charging types of your electric vehicle offers, you can then choose between them – depending e.g., whether you have plenty of time on your hands or are in a hurry and just need a quick battery top-up.

Charging an electric car is surprisingly cheap. While the cost of charging varies dramatically, depending on factors such as your location, electricity rates, and the charging method you use, it offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fuel-powered vehicles.

What is the cheapest electric vehicle on the market? And how affordable are Electric Vehicles (EVs) in general? In summary, the cost of buying an electric car depends on many factors – including the make, model, and battery size, in addition to any government grants and tax breaks that might exist where you live. And that’s not the whole story: the cost of ownership in the long run can also create a considerable “payback effect” for EV owners.

Kia warranty covers 7 years or 150,000 km, whichever comes first, in EU member states (plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland & Gibraltar). Deviations for battery, paint, and equipment are subject to local terms.

Kia's high-voltage lithium-ion batteries in EVs, HEVs, and PHEVs have a warranty of 7 years or 150,000 km. Low-voltage batteries in MHEVs have a 2-year warranty regardless of mileage. EVs and PHEVs have a 70% battery capacity guarantee, while warranty doesn't cover capacity reduction in HEVs and MHEVs. See operating instructions for counteracting capacity reduction.

EVs, or Electric Vehicles, are fully electric and solely rely on an electric motor and a large battery pack for power. They produce zero tailpipe emissions and require external charging. On the other hand, HEVs, or Hybrid Electric Vehicles, combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a small battery pack. They do not need external charging and can operate in electric-only mode for short distances.

There are essentially two options available to you – charging your EV at home using your own domestic mains electricity supply or making use of public charging stations. This will affect the types (and speeds) of charging available to you. There are three categories or types of charging: Trickle Charge, AC Charge and DC Charge.

Trickle Charge is a slow home charging method using a standard 220V plug. It charges about 65 km in 5 hours (overnight) or 200 km in 14 hours. It's for urgent situations. Use with caution due to potential electricity bill and load issues. Consult your electricity provider before using. Consider an ICCB cable for reliability and peace of mind.​

AC Household Charging is the most common and recommendable home charging option. By having a Wallbox installed at your home, you can charge your EV approx. 3-4 faster than using Trickle Charge. AC Public Charging is also available, which is much faster again, although most public charging stations use DC Fast Charging.

DC Fast Charging is the fastest way to charge your EV, providing power from 50kW and above. Using this method, you can top up your battery from 20 to 80% in approx. 40 minutes.

Electric vehicles require considerably less maintenance than fuel-powered cars. That’s mostly because their “inner workings” are a lot simpler in many ways. While an electric motor in an Electric Vehicle (EV) contains perhaps slightly more than a dozen moving parts, a conventional combustion engine typically has hundreds of moving parts. And the fewer the parts in an Electric Vehicle (EV), the less that can go wrong. This lower maintenance may mean fewer servicing costs and less hassle. An Electric Vehicle (EV) also has fewer fluids that need to be changed or topped up on a regular basis.

And thanks to regenerative braking, brake systems on Electric Vehicles (EVs) usually last longer than on conventional vehicles too as they enjoy extended brake wear intervals. Batteries in electric cars, just like in ICE vehicles, don’t last forever, but many electric car manufacturers provide warranties that cover the battery and all other components for a period of many years. With Kia Electric Vehicles, your car and its battery are even covered by a 7-year warranty (1) for full peace of mind throughout this period. You must however arrange an annual scheduled chefor your Electric Vehicle (EV) for minor maintenance to its electrical systems, to make sure your electric car stays in top working condition for longer.

While the density of charging stations varies from market to market, one thing is for sure: Europe’s electric vehicle charging network is growing all the time – with an ever-denser infrastructure of public charging stations popping up at shopping centers, car parks, places of work and motorway service stations across the continent. And with the growing demand for car charging points, and given the impact of innovation and technology, this Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is set to continue expanding and improving in the future. For more details about our charging network (DCS network of over 500,000+) visit our Public Charging page.

And what’s more: All Kia Electrified Vehicles offer Kia Live Services provided by TomTom® (2) with a Parking Space and EV Charging Station Finder Map that conveniently guide you to the nearest charging station, wherever you happen to be in Europe. If you’re interested to find the nearest charging stations in your local area, or if you’re planning a longer trip and want to know where the charging points are on your route, it is quick and easy to find out with our Charging Station Finder Map.