Kia Tips 300-Mile Range for EV9 SUV
Kia's 2024 EV9 electric SUV, which is scheduled to launch in late 2023, has an estimated range of 300+ miles, the car maker revealed on Monday.
The EV9 will have a 336-mile WLTP-estimated range on its long range, two-wheel-drive variant. However, that will likely fall to around 300 miles of EPA-estimated range due to variance in testing methods between the WLTP European standard and the EPA in the US. Kia has yet to provide full specs by trim, leaving the standard range a mystery for now.
The EV9's 99.8kWh battery will charge in 15 minutes on a fast charger "thanks to an ultra-fast, 800-volt charging system," Kia says. That's about as fast as it can be given current technology and what we're seeing from other brands.
Kia's first electric vehicle, the EV6(Opens in a new window), came out in 2021; last year, it added the Kia Niro EV(Opens in a new window) to the lineup. The EV6 and Niro EV seat five, whereas the EV9 has a 7-seat interior. “The EV9 could be the new flagship for our brand," Kia said at the event. "While the EV6 played an important role, the EV9 will push us forward."
Like the EV6, the EV9 will support vehicle-to-load technology, meaning drivers can use the battery as a generator to power small devices, like laptops. Eventually, it will also support vehicle-to-grid capability, Kia says. The EV9 will get over-the-air updates(Opens in a new window), which Kia announced last month for all model year 2022+ vehicles.
Fifteen sensors on the vehicle will monitor its surroundings, enabling a suite of self-driving features. In certain global markets, the EV9 can perform advanced, Level 3 self-driving. That probably won't include the US, which has currently only awarded Mercedes a permit for Level 3 autonomous driving
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