“Like the human body, a battery also has a certain temperature range where it feels most comfortable,” says Frank. “Within this range, it can provide its best performance while driving and charging. Outside that range, dedicated, state-of-the-art battery thermal technologies have been implemented to manage these extreme conditions.”
One of these features is battery conditioning, which was first introduced with the Kia EV6. Battery conditioning essentially means pre-heating the battery before charging. By achieving optimal battery temperature before charging begins, the EV9 can continue to achieve ultra-fast charging, despite the cold.
Another feature, EV Route Planner, introduced for the first time with EV9, offers customers even more convenience by automatically programming charging points into the route when they are needed. The system analyses real-time vehicle data, as well as the route that has been entered into the AVN system, to add charging points when needed. When the estimated all-electric driving range is insufficient to reach the destination, the AVN displays a pop-up suggesting possible charging stations and asking the customer if they would like to add it to the route. This means customers don’t need to spend time planning out their routes based on the availability of charging stations - the EV9 does it for them by showing them when, where, and for how long to charge.
EV Route Planner and battery conditioning work together to pre-heat the battery in cold conditions when a high-speed charging point is coming up. For customers, this means more time at the wheel and less time spent charging – or thinking about charging. “Our target is to provide the best possible driving and charging experience to our customers,” said Frank. “We want them to be able to drive longer distances in the shortest possible time and in the most relaxed way to make the step from ICE to EV cars as easy and smooth as possible.”