Charging Kia EVs

Kia first jumped into the EV world with the release of the full battery electric Kia Soul EV, unveiled in 2014. The quirky, cubic wagon was well-received and proved a quality first EV effort. Kia expanded its electric lineup in 2017 with the introduction of the plug-in Kia Optima PHEV. In 2019, Kia released its most electrifying EV model to date. Preceded by a PHEV Niro in 2018, the Kia Niro EV sports a near-industry-leading range of 239 miles in an attractive crossover package. In 2021, Kia premiered its first EV to be built on a purpose-built EV platform, the EV6. The line-up will grow to include various models on the E-GMP platform shared with other Hyundai Group companies Hyundai and Genesis.

Below is a rundown of every available Kia electric vehicle with a link to the best Kia electric car charger options for each model.

Kia Soul

Introduced in 2014, the Kia Soul was Kia’s first step into the world of electric vehicles. Building on the success of the gas-powered Soul, the Kia Soul touts an electric driving range of 234 miles in its upcoming 2021 edition.

The battery of the Kia Soul has grown significantly with new model years. The 2016 Soul EV came with a 30.4 kWh battery, while the 2020 Kia Soul is equipped with a 64 kWh battery, expanding the range twofold.

Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 is an all-electric, compact crossover SUV with an attractive entry price. It’s comparable to other crossovers, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Volkswagen I.D.4, and its cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The $40,900 base version, the EV6 Light, is equipped with a 58 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery and rear-wheel drive. The Wind ($47,000) and Kia EV6 GT-Line models get a longer range 77.4 kWh battery and are available either with rear- or all-wheel drive. The First Edition ($58,500) is a fully optioned model with 320 horsepower, a larger battery, and all-wheel drive.

Kia Niro EV

Introduced in 2018, the Kia Niro EV is the latest all-electric offering from Kia, supplementing the PHEV version of the Niro. The Niro EV features a 64.0 kWh battery that can charge at a rate of 7.4 kW on a Level 2 EV charger and has fast charging capabilities with up to 77 kW using a Level 3 DC Fast Charger.

EV drivers and critics have warmly received the Niro EV’s substantial range and elegant practicality. With an EPA-estimated range of 239 miles, the Niro offers one of the longest all-electric ranges on the market today.

Looking for a Kia EV charger?

Charging Kia electric vehicles

For Level 1 and Level 2 charging, Kia EVs and PHEVs use the industry-standard SAE J1772 connector in North America. Charging times vary depending on the charging station used.

Kia Optima PHEV

The Kia Optima PHEV is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle version of Kia’s popular Optima mid-size sedan. The Optima PHEV has a 10 kWh battery, providing a range of 28 miles without assistance from the gasoline motor. Once the battery is depleted, the Optima PHEV will switch to hybrid-electric driving. The Optima PHEV has a maximum charge rate of 3.3 kW and can charge from empty to completely full in three hours.

Kia Niro PHEV

The Kia Niro PHEV was introduced in 2017, followed by the all-electric Niro EV in 2018, and offers a practical blend of affordability and efficiency. The Kia Niro PHEV sports an 8.9 kWh battery with a respectable all-electric range of 30 miles.

Once the battery has been exhausted, the Niro PHEV offers extremely efficient hybrid driving with an EPA fuel efficiency of 52 mpg.

Level 3 DC fast charging: CCS Combo

The Kia Niro EV and Soul EV have DC fast charge capabilities and charge at a rate of up to 100 kW. This charge rate allows the Niro to charge up to 80% in about 50 minutes and the Soul to charge to 80% in around 30 minutes. The EV6 has an 800-volt battery system that allows for a maximum charge rate of up to 350 kW. This allows the EV6 to charge from 10-80% in as little as 18 minutes. The Niro and EV6 use the SAE Combined Charging Connector (CCS) while the Soul EV uses the CHAdeMO connector for level 3 DC fast charge.