Professor B drives a KIA EV6 GT Line 77.4kWh 2022.

This is Professor B’s second electric car, he’s owned the KIA EV6 from new and drives 5,000-10,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 5,000-10,000 miles and he achieves 250 miles from a full charge.

Why did you choose the KIA EV6?

To be green & to futureproof my motoring.

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Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this electric car

• Quiet
• smooth
• cheap fuel (at first).

Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this electric car

• Low headroom
• complicated dashboard – errors possible
• poor heater
• poor range in winter
• charger anxiety!!
• very poor dealer.

Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?

Very poor dealer service, the car went in for no heater and I had to battle to get a suitable loan car. I phoned & was told it was just going away on a transporter (60 miles). After 5 days, I phoned again & was told that “they would find out & phone back”. Late afternoon, I phoned the other garage. They had the car but didn’t know whose it was or what was wrong with it!

I created a row & was told that they would start work that evening. Next day, they told me that they had fixed the heater (software update) but that there was a safety recall item that would be fixed the next day. I then had to wait a week for it to be transported back. Apparently, my main dealer had no trained technicians for all of 2022. Soon after, I traded the car in. The KIA dealer bought it back for £1,500 more than he offered me.

What are the standout technological features of the car?

• It had various advanced features but they all felt rather unfinished for a car of this price
• the centre console ‘buttons’ were switchable dual function, very messy to use
• the seat heater touch buttons were accidentally touched everytime you changed the centre controls!

Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car 

The under-bonnet locker was a good idea.

What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?

Because of the nightmare of charging – time it takes & availability of fast/working chargers, on journeys, I have reverted back to a plug-in hybrid. It is great locally, charging is quick, economy is good & range is not a problem. It’s more comfortable too.

Home charging unit – outline both positive & negative elements

• The charger is badged as Scottish Power but doesn’t have a model number
• the plug cover & holder are not well designed for non-use
• I have charged 3 different cars at home and each had a different port location. The current car is the most difficult to charge as the cable is a bit short.

Electricity supplier & tariff – outline both positive & negative elements

I am on EDF’s standard tariff – I usually charge overnight for convenience and I have solar panels & a solar battery. In summer it costs very little.

What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?

Because of where I live I mainly use ChargePoint Scotland. There seem to be few above 50kW public (non-Tesla) charge points in Scotland. The large green charge centre at the park & ride outside Stirling is convenient for journeys & has 50 points.

Insurer – outline both positive & negative elements

Saga – I found no difference from my previous diesel cars.

Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running a KIA EV6

Not easy to say as we changed to electric during lockdown. We stopped towing a large caravan & did much less mileage. We also changed to a smaller electric car, the KIA e-Niro 4. Scottish charge points were mainly free. Also there were less electric cars on the road. Tax was free. Insurance was about the same.

*library image used.

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