Kia EV6 Introduction
In our ongoing review of top electric cars available in Europe, here’s a short summary of the Kia EV6 and its specs.
Intro
Long, long ago in a country far, far away, two carmakers believing in fairytales about the future of the automotive industry (like all other carmakers were) designed a new platform for their future models. It was capable of a gasoline powertrain, a diesel powertrain, a light hybrid powertrain, a full hybrid powertrain, a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, and even a plug-in battery electric hybrid powertrain. But the fairytale did not end in a happily ever after. The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (HFCEV) powertrain system was not ready for volume production, leaving the two ambitious carmakers with an incomplete product line.
The HFCEV was the next-generation, bright-future, zero-emissions version that should lead the way to the automotive world of the future. But the managers saw an intermediate, temporary solution to the incomplete powertrain problem. There was a small, limited group of tree-hugging environmentalists that were willing to pay through the nose for battery electric vehicles. And battery electric vehicles were also zero emissions — but, regretfully, without a future. Who would buy them? Who wants to own a BEV?
Strangely enough, the electric models were quickly sold, and there was demand for more, a lot more. Tree hugging appeared to be more popular than the Hyundai/Kia managers expected.
And so these two carmakers started to join the quarterly pilgrimage to the battery sales managers of the few battery-making companies. Could they please make more batteries? Preferably double what was originally asked? Oh, and please do not sell your limited supply to our competition.
The battery makers actually had the same view of the market. It was only for a small number of tree huggers. The battery makers didn’t care which customer sold to the tree huggers; they promised enough to all the carmakers to satisfy that small demand. The battery makers got overbooked, not like hotels during spring break or airlines for Christmas, but many times worse. The market shares of their customers was not part of a zero sum market.
But that is history. With new factories, there are nearly enough batteries produced. The next bottleneck is lithium supply in the second half of this decade.
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Birth of the BEV
After learning that demand for BEVs was not really limited, and HFCEVs stayed “in the future for some more years” for 5 years, a dedicated BEV strategy was developed. After developing a dedicated electric powertrain that could be used in existing ICE models, a complete BEV platform was created. This Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) is a toolkit like Volkswagen Group’s MEB. It is an 800V architecture that supports a wheelbase up to 3,000 mm. Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are supported.
The nice thing about a toolkit strategy compared to a chassis platform is the ease with which new building blocks can be added. It is now used for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6, the Genesis GV60, and the Kia EV6. The Kia EV9, aimed at the market for large SUVs in the USA, will follow this year. The Kia EV4, an European sized cross-over, will follow after that. As will more models of the other brands of the group.
Specs
From EV-Database.org:
- Battery: 54kWh–74kWh (800V architecture), with about 305–410 km (190–255 miles) of range.
- Motor: 125kW and 350Nm rear-wheel drive.
- Motor: 168kW and 350Nm rear-wheel drive.
- Motor: 175/239kW and 605Nm all-wheel drive.
- Charging: 233kW DC and 11kW AC.
- Safety: Euro NCAP ***** (5-star rating)
- Length * Width * Height in mm: 4680 * 1880 * 1550
- Length * Width * Height in mm: 184.3” * 74” * 61”
Reviewers Like the EV6
Some reviewers consider the EV6 the best or one of the best BEVs on the market. Calling a model “the best” says more about the reviewer than the product, but it is an indication of the level and balance of quality, usability, interior, exterior, and price. The EV6 offers a lot for its price. But calling it “the best” is not reflected in the sales numbers in Europe. It has done reasonably well, but the Skoda Enyaq with about the same specifications and price has gotten twice as many sales.
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