With the launch of its new EV9 SUV, available in the UK later this year, Kia has also announced it is introducing a suite of smart technologies, with the aim of making EV mobility more convenient, accessible, and efficient than ever before. This is via Kia Connect, Kia Charge, and Kia Smart Charging products.  

Kia Connect works via an "always on" connection between the vehicle, Kia's servers, and data providers. As such, this enables the live streaming of data to deliver real-time updates and information via the Connected Car Cloud. Kia then uses this live data to find available charging stations and predictive maintenance. It says this live data can also make roads safer for everyone, will enable the efficient management of fleets, and improve emergency response times.  

Kia Connect will be available via a dedicated app, which allows drivers to take full advantage of the features available in the new Kia Connect Store. This store is designed to be the go-to place for drivers to purchase upgrades for their cars. This means they will be able to continuously update their cars to suit their needs. The new EV9 will be the first car to benefit from this store, it is also the first Kia to have the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCNC), with dual-band GPS for improved accuracy. Over-the-air updates mean the system will be constantly updated with the latest maps, interfaces, and software enhancements. The EV9 will also have a EV Route Planner feature, which will suggest the best charging points based on your range while travelling to your location. 

Using the Kia Charge app opens up half a million chargepoints in 28 countries to Kia EV drivers. The number of chargers is growing too, thanks to pan-European partnerships with Ionity and Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), as well as local providers.

Kia also has plans to expand joint ventures to establish 30,000 new ones by 2030. There will also be co-branded fast chargers at dealerships.  

With Kia Smart Charging, the Korean manufacturer claim drivers are given greater flexibility for charging their EV. With the advances in connectivity mentioned above, they claim EV charging and power usage are heading into a more sustainable future - via bidirectional charging. This works via energy flowing both ways, both into and out of the vehicle. As such, the EV9 is capable of automated unidirectional smart charging (V1G), vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-building/vehicle-to-Home (V2B/V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G).