Kia Introduces Smart Charging to Cut Electric Car Owners' Costs

South Korean carmaker Kia has announced plans to reduce the cost of charging electric vehicles for its customers with a new smart charging service.

Available in the Netherlands

February 27 In a statement posted on LinkedIn, the company   said  this is part of Hyundai Motor Group's plans to expand the capabilities of electric vehicles and go beyond mobility. The group is working globally to implement Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services.

The service is currently available to electric vehicle owners in the Netherlands, allowing them to charge their cars during periods of lower prices and thus reduce their electricity costs.

New services that will help you save money

Smart Charging is Kia's initiative to improve energy management efficiency for electric vehicle owners.

This service allows for optimized vehicle charging through lower electricity prices during the day, allowing users to save and reduce their electricity costs.

The Kia Smart Charge app, available free from the Apple App Store and Google Play, coordinates data from the car and the electricity supplier. This ensures that charging occurs at the most economical times. The app is also compatible with any home charger.

In addition to smart charging, Kia is introducing a new V2H service that allows Kia EV9 owners in select US states to use their car's battery as an energy storage device. 

During power outages, energy can be returned to homes, providing electricity during power outages.

"As part of Hyundai Motor Group's global V2X initiative, Kia's new energy services not only provide greater convenience but also significant benefits - both financially and in terms of energy management. "By expanding the role of EVs, we are not just providing a vehicle but also turning it into an energy hub, thereby affirming Kia's leadership in the rapidly growing EV and energy sector," the company said.

The new V2H service will launch on February 28 in seven US states, with plans to expand to other regions and vehicles.

Kia is also planning to introduce another innovation this year: the Vehicle to Grid (V2G) service, which will allow electric vehicles to sell excess stored electricity back to the grid. This will turn electric vehicles not only into a means of transportation, but also into energy sources that help stabilize the power grid.

Yesterday   we reported  that Kia, Hyundai and Samsung have started a collaboration to develop innovative batteries for robots.

Meanwhile, scientists have recently  discovered  that sodium-ion batteries could be a more economical, environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to the lithium batteries used in electric vehicles.