Kia will be fully electric in Europe by 2035

Friday, 12 November 2021

Kia has confirmed it will convert its entire European range to electric power by 2035, spearheaded by the EV6 sedan and now the EV9 large SUV.

The Korean brand wants to reduce its level of carbon emissions by 97 per cent by 2045, compared to 2019 levels, and start a “Blue Carbon” project that focuses on restoring and preserving Korea’s coastal ecosystems, as well as removing more plastic from the world’s oceans.

“For us, it is not only about setting goals and reaching targets, it is about setting a vision that will inspire others to join the movement to benefit humanity and protect the environment,” Kia boss Hosung Song told Top Gear.

The EV9 hasn’t been fully detailed yet but it will use the same E-GMP platform as the EV6 and, presumably, offer similar powertrain figures. It will also use upcycled materials developed from ocean waste.

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For reference, the EV6 can be had with a standard 58kWh battery pack and 2WD, with AWD and a larger 77.4kWh battery optional upgrades. Power ranges from 125kW/350Nm in 58kWh/2WD models to 239kW/605Nm in those with the larger battery and all-wheel drive.

All EV6s get 800V charging as standard, allowing ultra-fast charging stations to juice the electric SUV from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes, or add 100km of range in less than five minutes.

If range is what you want most of all, look for the 2WD 77.4kWh model – it will be able to drive 510km between charges. Kia isn’t offering range figures for the others just yet.

The EV9 will be revealed in full next week, along with its mechanically-similar twin, the Hyundai Ioniq 7.