Nearly a yr after Hyundai Motor Group introduced plans to undertake the North American Charging Normal (NACS), Kia America sits on the cusp of sending plug adapters out to its present prospects whereas its umbrella firm works to implement the common charging inlets on new fashions.
The North American Normal (NACS) was initially launched as American Automaker Tesla’s proprietary plug, giving its homeowners entry to its Supercharger community throughout North America.
After Tesla renamed the inlet NACS and shared intentions to open up entry to different OEMs, legacy automakers like Ford and GM shortly introduced the transition. Prior to now yr, almost each EV automaker has adopted swimsuit and adopted the North American Charging Normal, bringing hopes of a common charging inlet that a lot nearer to actuality—even when it should take adapters to begin.
Final yr, Hyundai Motor Group mentioned it could must look at the usual from “a buyer’s perspective” earlier than deciding whether or not to undertake NACS. Nonetheless, the Korean automaker confirmed {that a} change was within the works after we reported that an IONIQ 5 and Kia EV9 had been noticed at Tesla chargers.
Hyundai and Kia are engaged on implementing native NACS ports on future EV fashions, together with the EV9, however present homeowners and those that buy one of many model’s BEVs this yr will nonetheless want an adapter.
Nonetheless, beginning in early 2025, these EV homeowners can obtain a NACS adapter from Kia, and a few will get one at no cost.
Kia to rollout NACS adapters to prospects in January 2025
In line with an replace from Kia America this morning, it plans to start sending NACS adapters to EV6 and EV9 homeowners on January 15, 2025. The automaker relayed that any buyer who purchases and takes supply of a brand new 2024 or 2025 Kia EV9 or 2024 Kia EV6 from September 4, 2024, onward will obtain a complimentary NACS adapter.
The adapter will give these Kia homeowners entry to over 16,500 Tesla DC quick chargers within the US. Kia America’s VP of gross sales operations, Eric Watson, spoke in regards to the rollout of NACS adapters:
As a pacesetter in electrified mobility, it’s essential Kia present our EV prospects the perfect possession expertise potential, and providing NACS adapters is an effective way to open up an enormous variety of cost factors throughout North America, increasing Kia-accessible DC cost factors by greater than 83 p.c. Kia EVs are identified for his or her vary, with the EV6 RWD Mild Lengthy Vary touring an EPA-estimated 310 miles on a full cost. Now, with entry to this sprawling community of DC quick chargers, our EV homeowners can really feel much more assured of their potential to achieve far-flung locations on electrical energy.
In line with Kia, the NACS adapters might be accessible in three variations: NACS to CCS1, CCS1 to NACS, and J1772 to NACS. NACS to CCS1 permits present Kia EVs to make use of Tesla-branded DC quick chargers. The CCS1 coupler to NACS port permits NACS-equipped Kia EVs to cost on present CCS DC chargers, and the J1772 to NACS adapter permits NACS-equipped Kia EVs to AC-charge on present Degree 2 chargers.
In the event you took supply of a Kia EV6 or EV9 earlier than September 4 of this yr, you may nonetheless get an NACS adapter, however you’ll need to pay for it. Kia says these homeowners could have the chance to buy an adapter from a licensed Kia vendor “at a later date.”
How a lot that may price stays unsure at this level. For comparability, GM simply began rolling out its permitted NACS adapter to its prospects, beginning at $225.
Lastly, Kia mentioned it should roll out an OTA software program replace in early 2025 that may enable its EV homeowners to find and pay for charging by way of the Kia Entry app.
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