Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Guide For Ireland
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The All-Electric Kia EV6 Crossover
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 Korean automotive company is headquartered in Seoul, and it is South Korea’s second largest automotive manufacturer after the Hyundai Motor Company. Hyundai owns a 33.88% stake in Kia. The Kia Corporation has been active in the European markets since 1991. The BEVs and PHEVs range includes:
- The all-electric Kia Niro
- The all-electric Kia EV6
- Niro Plug-In Hybrid
- XCeed Plug-In Hybrid
- Ceed Sportswagon Plug-In Hybrid
- Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
- Sportage 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 528 km (WLTP) on a fully charged battery.
Impressive pure electric range, but of course we need to adjust for the real-world driving conditions. Expect a zero-emission electric range up to 490 km. 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 Ireland 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.
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 Ireland 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, the rear-wheel drive (RWD) electric crossover does not disappoint, despite the additional weight of the EV battery (477.1 kg). The Kia EV6 RWD can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds (max power: 229 bhp/ 350 Nm torque). The top speed of the EV is 185 km/h. Of course, the EV benefits from instant torque!
Bottom-line, zero-tailpipe emission electric cars are good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Attractive exterior styling | Rear-visibility poor/ blind spots |
| Good pure electric range | Only available in one EV battery option |
| DC charging up to 350 kW and 11 kW AC onboard charger available as standard | Only available as rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
Gallery
The All-Electric Kia EV6 Crossover (credit: Kia)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV (crossover) |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| EV6 Earth (from € 54,300) |
| EV6 GT Line S (from € 65,000) |
| EV6 GT (price not available) |
| 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 150,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| 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
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1550 |
| Width (mm): | 1890 |
| Length (mm): | 4680 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2900 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.6 |
| Boot Capacity (L): | 490 |
| EV6 77.4 kWh RWD | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 77.4 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 504 – 528 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/km): | 17.2 – 16.5 |
| Charging: | 350 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 18 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 20 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 185 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 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): | 2,015 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
History Of Electric Cars: Quick Facts
| An electric vehicle (EV), also referred to as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is not a new invention or even an invention of modern times. Indeed, EVs were first developed more than a 100 years ago in the 19th century. Inventors from various countries, to include European countries and the United States, were the first to invest in electric motors and batteries. The first practical electric cars were built in the second half of the nineteenth century, with the first US electric car introduced in 1890. |
| 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. It was the beginning of man’s love affair with cars that has lasted more than a century and still going strong. |
| However, the uptake of electric vehicles in the early 20th century was short-lived, as gasoline powered vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines (ICE) become the preferred mode of transportation. Bottom-line, manufactures chose internal combustion engines over electric cars in the early 1900s for various reasons, to include, the costs and production volumes. |
| It is not definitive as to where EVs were invented or to credit a single inventor. However, one known electric motor (small-scale) was created in 1828 by Anyos Jedlik, a Hungarian inventor, engineer, physicist and Benedictine priest. Hungarians and Slovaks still consider him to be the unsung hero of the electric motor. |
| Shortly after, between 1832 and 1839, a Scottish inventor Robert Anderson created a large electric motor to drive a carriage, powered by non-rechargeable primary power cells. Through the 19th century a number of inventors were inspired to develop electric motors to include, Thomas Davenport, an American from Vermont credited with building the first DC electric motor in America (1834). Unlike many of his contemporaries and other trying to build electric motors, Davenport did not have a background in either engineering or physics. In fact, he was a blacksmith. |
| Move forward a few decades and at the end of the 19th century, William Morrison created what is believed to be the first practical electric vehicle. Morrison, another American from Des Moines, Iowa, was a chemist who became interested in electricity. He build the first electric vehicle in 1887 in a carriage built by the Des Moines Buggy Co. His first attempt was not a great success. In 1890, he attempted again, with more success. 12 EVs were built using a carriage built by the Shaver Carriage Company. |
| The batteries were designed and developed by William Morrison. The vehicle had 24 batteries with an output of 112 amperes at 58 volts that took 10 hours to recharge. Available horsepower just under 4 horsepower. The vehicle could accommodate 6 individuals and had a top speed of 14 mph (22.50 km/h). |
| Morrison’s success led to others also developing large-scale practical electric cars. At the turn of the century cities like New York had 60 electric taxis. The first decade witnessed strong popularity for electric vehicles. However the popularity was short-lived as internal combustion engine (ICE) gasoline powered vehicles replaced the early electric vehicles. Henry Fords success with the then ubiquitous Ford Model T was the ‘beginning of the end’ for electric vehicles. The Model T was cheaper than the prevailing electric cars (US$ 650 Vs US$ 1,750) and could be manufactured at scale. As they say — the rest is history. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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