Kia Motors has launched its KiaCharge service in the UK, providing an integrated public charging service, designed to give drivers easier access to public vehicle charging.
KiaCharge gives owners of the brand’s BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) access to more than 13,900 charge points across the UK, around 68% of the public charging network, from a single account.
The service provides access to several major charging networks, including bp pulse, Pod Point, IONITY, Source London, Chargepoint, NewMotion, Char.gy, and ESB.
The service provides access to more than 1,300 ‘rapid’ connections, providing charging speeds above 50kW. Also, created in partnership with Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), the service enables zero-emission continental travel. Thanks to eRoaming, drivers can access more than 178,000 additional charging points across 28 other European countries without the need for additional contracts.
Kia BEV and PHEV owners can access KiaCharge via a smartphone app or radio-frequency identification (RFID) card. Instead of numerous individual transactions, payments are made via a single itemised monthly invoice.
The service offers a choice of two fully flexible tariffs for all customers, tailored to fit individual charging preferences: ‘Easy’ and ‘Plus’.
The ‘Easy’ tariff is ideal for light users, with a one-off £1.99 charge to access the service and obtain their KiaCharge RFID card. With no monthly subscription fees, most charging stations instead require a £0.49 ‘session fee’ when users plug in (except chargers on the bp pulse and Pod Point networks), with users then paying per kWh of electricity.
The ‘Plus’ tariff is the ideal option for those who rely more heavily on public charging. They simply pay a £2.99 monthly tariff, with no up-front charge or session fees. Like the ‘Easy’ tariff, users also pay per kWh, but earn an additional 15% discount per kWh from most networks.
Every user can also add a new or existing bp pulse bolt-on subscription to their KiaCharge account, costing an additional £7.85 per month. This subscription provides users with a discount of up to 40% when charging within the bp pulse network of nearly 7,000 chargers, compared to the ‘instant’ charging rate.
KiaCharge users access the network via RFID card or through the KiaCharge smartphone app, compatible with iOS and Android devices. Through the app, users can see real-time information for individual networks or charging points, including pricing, availability, and technical information.
The new service is expected to help accelerate the all-electric revolution as charging EVs will be much easier, according to Paul Philpott, President & CEO of Kia Motors (UK) Limited.
“The availability and suitability of public charge points remains a perceived hurdle for many would-be electric car buyers,” he said. “KiaCharge seeks to remedy this by providing a comprehensive, easy-to-use public charging service for our customers, accessible from a single account.”