Automaker Kia has revealed plans to cut EV charging costs for its customers with its new Smart Charging service.
The company in a LinkedIn post on 27 February said this is part of steps to extend its EV capabilities beyond mobility as part of Hyundai Motor Group’s global push to advance Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services.
Currently available to EV owners in the Netherlands, the service allows users to charge during lower-cost periods and save on electricity bills.
Doing more with EVs
Smart Charging is Kia’s initiative to make energy management more efficient for EV owners. The service enables EV owners to optimize charging of their cars by leveraging times of low electricity rates throughout the day.
The Kia Smart Charge app coordinates data from the vehicle and energy supplier to ensure the car is charged at the most cost-effective times.
Kia customers can download the app for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and is compatible with any home charger.
In addition to Smart Charging, Kia is rolling out a new Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) service that enables Kia EV9 owners in select U.S. states to store energy in their vehicle’s battery and discharge power back into their homes during blackouts.
“As part of Hyundai Motor Group’s global Vehicle-to-Everything initiative, Kia’s new energy services are designed to offer EV owners not only enhanced convenience but also significant benefits in terms of cost savings and energy management. By expanding the role of our EVs beyond just transportation, we are solidifying Kia’s leadership position in the rapidly evolving EV-energy sector.
The company is introducing its V2H service on February 28 in seven states, including California, with plans for further expansion to more regions and vehicles.
Later this year, Kia intends to introduce a new service known as Vehicle to Grid (V2G), which allows EVs to sell excess stored electricity back to the grid at times of power scarcity, thus turning electric vehicles into energy hubs.
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