Will the KIA EV6 be affordable for average Malaysians to own?
Kia’s new all-electric vehicle, the EV6 is coming to Malaysia in 2022 and the social media reaction has been very promising which we find very surprising. Let us explain.
Ok, so this Kia EV6 has just been nominated for the 2022 ‘Car of the Year’ just two months in the global market and that alone says a lot for this all new Kia vehicle.
Then there is promise that this KIA electric car will deliver the very best ownership experience by making the electric lifestyle a viable option for day-to-day mobility, but, will it be for the wealthy Malaysian only.
Let’s not forget the selling price in its home country, South Korea where it starts from RM163,000 (and this is the base model). In England the selling price starts from 33,537 pounds sterling (which is about RM188,000) and in Australia the selling price will start from AUD65,000 (which is about RM197,000)
Yes, there are no import duties and also zero road tax for new electric cars imported into Malaysia in 2022 and this is why there has been a lot of new models being teased to arrive in 2022.
So, there is a good chance that the selling price of the EV6 will start from RM188,000 which is close to the selling price of a Nissan Leaf and also the Hyundai Kona EV high specification version.
Meanwhile, if the Nissan Leaf has just a few hundred customers since its launch years ago (purchase, leasing and subscription), how much successful will the Kia EV6 be?
Yes, the EV6 is bigger, better equipped and more striking in its design, however, only the wealthy will be able to afford it and not the middle class Malaysian.
This EV6 crossover also recently made GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS history by traveling a distance of 2,880.5 miles with the shortest charging time to cross the United States in an electric vehicle.
During the seven-day trek from New York City to Los Angeles, the Kia EV6 was plugged in for a scant 7 hours 10 minutes and 1 second, beating previous record holder, Tesla, by more than five and a half hours (12 hours, 48 minutes, and 19 seconds).
PRESS RELEASE: Kia’s EV6 has removed the perceived barriers that prevent many from making the switch to electric. As Kia’s first dedicated EV, it provides rapid charging times, access to an extensive charging network, impressive long range, segment-leading interior space and can even act as a portable battery pack to charge electrical appliances or other electric vehicles.
The EV6 is designed inside and out to deliver the very best experience an EV can offer, making ownership as convenient and accessible as running an ICE vehicle, and with reduced environmental impact.
New electrification experience
Kia’s EV6 is built on the company’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) designed exclusively for its electric vehicles. This provides immediate advantages over adapting existing platforms designed to accommodate a combustion engine. The E-GMP architecture ensures that EV6 provides a new electrification experience with powerful driving performance, ultra-fast charging, increased range and enhanced safety.
The E-GMP also means that despite compact exterior dimensions, the EV6 offers class-leading space within. A long 2.9m wheelbase and minimal front and rear overhangs provide cabin space similar to that of vehicles in larger segments. Exceptional legroom of 1,078mm at the front and 990mm at the rear ensures space and roominess for all passengers to enjoy.
Multi high speed charging system
EV6 introduces a world first multi high-speed charging system which provides EV6 drivers with access to a broader charging infrastructure. Multi high-speed charging means that the system is compatible with both 800V ultra-fast charging and more mainstream 400V fast charging without the need for any special adapter or additional on-board charger.
Stopping at an 800V charger feeds the current directly to the battery at ultra-fast speeds, charging the EV6 battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes with a maximum power of 239kW. When EV6 stops at a more mainstream 400V charger, the EV6 using the vehicle’s motor and inverter to convert the 400V current coming from the charging station into 800V so it can charge the battery at the maximum power provided by it.
Market-leading range
Kia has raised the standards of range performance with the combination of E-GMP architecture, power electronics and design that give EV6 one of the best all-electric ranges on the market.
EV6 comes with a choice of fully electric, zero-emission powertrain configurations, including a standard-range (58kWh) and long-range (77.4kWh) high voltage battery pack. Homologated WLTP values confirm that the rear wheel drive 77.4 kWh EV6 can travel up to 528 kilometers on the combined cycle (combined electric energy consumption 16.5 kWh/100km).
This is a similar driving distance from Geneva to Paris on a single charge. Less frequent charging removes one of the most significant barriers to EV ownership.
The all-wheel drive EV6 can also deliver a strong range performance; 506km on the combined WLTP cycle. All-wheel drive combined electric energy consumption is as low as 17.2 kWh/100km.
Portable power
Kia has developed an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) which controls built-in bi-directional chargers, and the Vehicle Charging Management System (VCMS). The ICCU enables up to 3.6kW of power to be transferred from the vehicle battery to other devices.
This vehicle to load (V2L) function allows occupants to charge electrical items on the go, such as a laptop, or home appliances using an outdoor V2L gender connector.
Vehicle to vehicle (V2V) charging is also possible whereby power can be transferred to another electric vehicle, for example in an emergency, with the use of an In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) cable and the V2L gender connector. EV6 own’s battery is preserved by ensuring state of charge does not fall below 20% at which point the V2V is disabled.
