“As we expand our EV offering, it is important that the charging network offers the same accessibility and quality of experience that our customers have come to expect from our state-of-the-art EVs,” said Sjoerd Knipping, Vice President Marketing & Product for Kia Europe. “Collaboration with the ‘&Charge’ service platform can only strengthen our ability to meet this objective.”
In the UK, customers can access more than 300 retailers via the ‘&Charge’ service platform, including popular DIY and home stores, clothing and fashion retailers, online travel sites and certain airlines, attractions and days out, food retailers and delivery services, and dozens of others. Users spending money through ‘&Charge’ build up ‘&Charge Kilometres’, with each kilometre equivalent to an average of £0.071 in Kia Charge credits (depending on retailer).
For example, if a brand offers 1 ‘&Charge Kilometre’ for every £3 spent, users spending £99 with this retailer would earn around £2.34 in Kia Charge credits to contribute towards their next public charge.
In addition to improving the affordability of EV ownership through its shopping bonus programme, ‘&Charge’ offers the chance to make the charging experience more effective and reliable in Europe through regular feedback and the gathering of information on electric vehicle charging stations. ‘&Charge’ app users can provide real-time input on individual charging station performance, and post accompanying pictures of chargers. Typically, users can earn between one and five ‘&Charge Kilometres’ for each picture they contribute. This crowd-sourced data is then used to help charge point operators verify issues and quickly improve the reliability and user experience at their public charging stations.
“By providing feedback, Kia customers will not only earn ‘&Charge Kilometres’ to use on public charging via the Kia Charge app but also help to ensure that the public charging infrastructure is operating at the level required to ensure progression of the e-mobility movement,” adds Knipping.
Globally, Kia will offer a line-up of 14 fully electric models by 2027, in line with its ‘Plan S’ strategy. 2023 will see the production-ready debut of the highly anticipated EV9 SUV. This new model is based on Kia's Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and will usher in a new era of sophisticated, high-tech, sustainable mobility for Kia.
If you are considering an electric Kia car, we'd love to welcome you to our Bumpers Farm dealership. Our Kia specialists can then help you configure your perfect car at a cost that suits you. We are sure you won't be disappointed!
Call us on 01249 444000 for more information.