EV DEMAND ACCELERATES

There are at least three customers for every Kia EV6 coming here this year

Kia Australia is lobbying head office for more stock of its EV6 electric vehicle after being inundated with orders for the new model. More than 1800 people have ordered the new car, undeterred by prices that range from $67,990 to $82,990 plus on-road costs.

The local operation has been given just 500 cars for this year, but chief operating officer Damien Meredith says he is in “constant dialogue” with head office to secure more stock.

He believes the brand could sell 3000 EV6S a year but admits Australia is unlikely to get more than 100 additional cars this year.

Meredith says he’s been surprised by the pace of market acceptance of EVS and he predicts they will make up 50 per cent of newcar sales by 2030.

“The reality is that it’s happened far quicker than everyone thought and I think that probably by the end of this decade I think we’ll be pretty close to 50 per cent.”

The growth will be driven both by legislation and the car industry itself.

“I think it’s going to be pushed by legislation. I think it’s going to be pushed by corporate decisions being made globally by manufacturers,” he says.

The EV6 will be available in three versions from launch.

The rear-wheel-drive, single-motor Air model will cost $67,990 plus on roads while the better equipped Gt-line will be available in both rear-drive, single-motor and all-wheeldrive dual-motor variants.

The rear-drive single motor Gt-line is $74,990 plus on-roads while the all-wheel-drive dual-motor costs $82,990 plus on-roads.

A more expensive, higher performance EGT model is expected to arrive before the end of this year.

Kia expects the Gt-line models to each account for 40 per cent of sales, while the cheaper Air will make up the remaining 20 per cent.

The EV6 is classified as a large SUV but looks more like an oversized hot hatch. Thanks to the dedicated EV platform, it has interior room on par with family SUVS. Its wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear wheels, is bigger than a Toyota Landcruiser.

All three models have 800-volt charging capability, which means the battery can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

The EV6 Air has a 77.4 kwh battery pack combined with a single electric motor putting out 168kw of power and 350Nm of torque. Kia claims it will travel up to 528km on a single charge and can accelerate from 0-100kmh in 7.3 seconds.

The rear-drive single-motor Gt-line has the same power outputs but a slightly lower range of 504km.

The all-wheel-drive dual-motor version produces 239kw and 605Nm and reaches 100kmh in a claimed 5.2 seconds. Range is 484km.

The Air model has standard satellite navigation, wireless charging, cloth and imitation leather seats, Apple Carplay/android Auto, radar cruise control and rear USB ports.

The Gt-line adds a premium Meridian sound system, artificial leather and suede trim, a head-up display, sunroof, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats and more.

Safety gear is extensive on both models. It includes auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor, radar cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert.

The GT Line adds a video feed of the car’s blind spots that appears in the driver display.

Kia says the car has attracted new buyers to the brand.

Roughly half of its orders are from people new to the brand.