I’m brand new to the EV6 world, day five with my 2024 Kia EV6 Light AWD Long Range. I’ve been trying out a few different chargers but noticed that the charging speeds are a lot slower than advertised. I’m currently using a DC Fast charger that claims to deliver 62.5 kW, but I’m only getting about 26 kW. Am I missing something here, or is there anything I can do to improve the speed?
We’re planning to mostly charge at home once we get set up, but I know I’ll need to charge out and about sometimes.
Charging speed often depends on your battery’s charge level (SOC) and the temperature. Charging slows down significantly above 80% SOC. Can you share your SOC and the outside temperature at your charging sessions? That info will help figure out if there’s an issue.
For reference, my 2022 Wind model peaks at around 225 kW DC Fast Charging in about 70°F weather and at 40% SOC. But if I’m at 80% SOC, the speed can drop to around 22 kW.
Also, sometimes the charger itself can be the issue. Electrify America can be hit-or-miss, while I’ve found EVgo to be more reliable. But experiences can vary widely depending on location.
@kwame
A good way to understand charging speed is to picture it like filling a container with a fire hose without spilling a drop. The ‘hose’ can be wide open when you start charging but slows down near the top to avoid overcharging.
@kwame
SOC? The battery was at 30% when I started, and it was a sunny 40°F. I’m up in the Colorado mountains, so that’s warm for us but maybe not for the battery.
MAKENA said: @kwame
SOC? The battery was at 30% when I started, and it was a sunny 40°F. I’m up in the Colorado mountains, so that’s warm for us but maybe not for the battery.
SOC means ‘State of Charge.’
Even in the cold Northeast, I’ve gotten top charging speeds at EA chargers in winter. But I’ve heard CO has lower-speed chargers. Saw a video where Colorado Springs had chargers around 65 kW. If it’s heavily used, the battery backup at the station may be empty, and then you’re stuck with just the grid power, which is slower.
MAKENA said: @kwame
SOC? The battery was at 30% when I started, and it was a sunny 40°F. I’m up in the Colorado mountains, so that’s warm for us but maybe not for the battery.
If you set the navigation in your Kia to a charger, it will precondition the battery to get better speeds when you arrive.
@Thomas
By the way, ‘preconditioning’ uses some battery power to warm the battery to an ideal temperature for faster charging. 40°F isn’t ideal for fast charging.
40°F is still pretty cold for battery charging. Preconditioning can help, and you activate it with the built-in nav system (not Android Auto or CarPlay). That cold temp could cut charging speed significantly. Plus, a 62.5 kW charger isn’t very fast to begin with, so it might be an old unit and just slow overall.
@jessicah
This seems like a design flaw. I don’t usually need navigation to find a charger, so using it just to precondition the battery feels awkward. Plus, I’d have to go to a charger 20 minutes away or start nav 20 minutes before a quick drive?
@MAKENA
Most people charge at home and only use fast chargers on long trips, so it makes sense for that setup. They assume using nav means you’re actually going to charge. Otherwise, if there were just a precondition button, people might forget to charge and just drain the battery for nothing. So it’s probably designed for the majority use case.
zendaya said:
What battery percentage are you starting with, and what’s the temperature outside? Are you using preconditioning?
It’s about 40°F outside, and I started with the battery at 30%. I’m not sure how to precondition without already being at a charger. How does that work?
@MAKENA
To precondition, you need to set your destination to the charging station using Kia’s built-in navigation (not Android Auto or CarPlay). It should warm the battery on the way. You may need to check your settings to make sure conditioning is enabled under EV settings.
A 65 kW charger will never give you true ‘fast’ charging. For a faster charge, look for 150 kW or higher, ideally 300 kW. Fast charging is best for long trips; otherwise, charging overnight works great and doesn’t need to be super fast.
Set your navigation to the charger before you go, and it’ll warm the battery by the time you get there. For faster speeds, try to find 150 kW or 350 kW chargers if you have that option.
jabali said:
Set your navigation to the charger before you go, and it’ll warm the battery by the time you get there. For faster speeds, try to find 150 kW or 350 kW chargers if you have that option.
Any idea how long it needs to precondition? This is the only charger in town, and the next one is 45 minutes away, also at 65 kW max.
@MAKENA
Doesn’t take too long. Just set the destination, drive there, and it should help. But yeah, cold weather will slow down an already slow charger.
