A few months ago, Kia presented the new EV6, its first model developed as electric and with up to 528 kilometers of autonomy. Already then I used the slogan of charging in less than 18 minutes , which can only be achieved if you plug the car into a 350 kW socket . These types of facilities are non-existent in Spain, for now. What the firm had up its sleeve is the agreement it has signed with the energy company EDP , by means of which they undertake to install more than 40 ultra-fast charging points in the main dealerships of the brand. Kia customers will be able to approach the facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week , to charge their electric vehicles such as the e-Niro, Soul or EV6, the last to arrive.
These charging points will have, as a general rule, 150 kW of power except for one of them, located in San Sebastián de los Reyes (Madrid), which will be 350 kW . This data, which is currently a milestone, will allow the firm to demonstrate the efficiency and speed of the EV6’s 800-volt system, which achieves 100 kilometers of autonomy in less than 5 minutes or a 10% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes . What would come by being approaching the dealership, having a coffee at their facilities and having the 528 kilometers of range offered by this new sporty-looking SUV.
A national network
The commitment of Kia, and the energy company EDP, is with the entire Spanish territory. For this reason, the commitment of this network of electric stations will promote sustainability through points distributed by official Kia dealers throughout Spain. They will be open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, and will be integrated into EDP’s KiaCharge and Move On platform , which means joining the more than 260,000 public chargers available throughout the old continent. .
Electrification had an insurmountable challenge five years ago: vehicle autonomy. After years of battery research and development, circulating range is no longer the issue, charging time and public infrastructure are. “The charging infrastructure is undoubtedly a key factor in the decision to purchase an electric and electrified vehicle. Kia is aware of this and has joined forces with a leading company such as EDP to be able to provide, with the support and great capillarity of our dealer network, one of the fastest charging networks in Spain and thus contribute to eliminating one of the main uncertainties when it comes to acquiring this type of vehicle, ”says Eduardo Dívar, CEO of Kia Iberia.
The Korean firm, far from being cowed by the challenge posed by the energy transition, has taken the reins of its strategic plan to become a leader in this drive. To this day, Kia has one of the most interesting electrified ranges on the market, with electric options but also hybrid and plug-in hybrids. A leap that is definitive and will be established in 2026 , when the brand contemplates the presence of 11 100% zero-emission models in its portfolio.
