Kia has announced that starting in 2025, they will be providing free charging adapters to eligible EV owners. These adapters will allow owners of Kia EV6 and EV9 SUVs purchased after September 4, 2024, to utilize North American Charging Standard (NACS) ports.
The automotive industry is moving towards the NACS port, pioneered by Tesla, and away from the Combined Charging System (CCS) port. While most automakers will start using the NACS port in vehicles assembled in 2025, existing EV owners with CCS ports may find themselves unable to use NACS chargers. To address this issue, Kia is offering free adapters to certain customers.
Customers who purchased a new Kia EV9 or EV6 after September 4, 2024, will receive the free adapter early next year. The offer applies to 2024-model EV6s and both 2024 and 2025 model EV9s. These adapters will enable Kia EV owners to access NACS-equipped DC fast-chargers starting January 15, 2025.
For owners of Kia EV9, EV6, and Niro EV vehicles purchased before September 4, they will have the option to purchase the adapter from a Kia dealership at a later date. Kia is offering three types of NACS adapters: NACS-to-CCS, CCS-to-NACS, and J1772-to-NACS. These adapters will allow current and future Kia EV owners to charge their vehicles at different types of charging stations.
In addition to the adapters, Kia will be implementing a vehicle software upgrade in early 2025 that will allow owners to pay for charging through the Kia Access app. This update will also enable owners to search for and navigate to charging stations, as well as view information such as availability, status, and pricing.
Overall, Kia’s initiative to provide free charging adapters to eligible EV owners is a step towards ensuring a seamless charging experience as the industry transitions to the NACS standard. This move will benefit both current and future Kia EV owners, allowing them to charge their vehicles at a variety of charging stations across the country.
