Kia’ New 3-Row EV9: PROPHET MARGIN

Kia’ New 3-Row EV9:

 PROPHET MARGIN

We reside on a semi-deserted island amid an ever-expanding ocean of electric vehicle charging stations, so I am trepidatious when the friendly people who send me cars tell me an EV is next up.

My worry intensifies because, after seven days, I must leave enough juice in the car to get it to Mount Pleasant, the first Level 3 charging station between here and the Metroplex. The drivers could go to Hope, Ark., but that involves going 30 miles backward before going forward.

However, a recent week behind the wheel of a Kia EV9 helped me find a solution much closer—a contractor-grade extension cord plugged into a 110-outlet in my garage. It was just a trickle charge, but it was enough to recharge the car after be-bopping around town for 30-40 miles a day. When the nice man came to retrieve the car, it still had 135 miles of range, which brought a big smile to his face.

The smile may not be significant, except to me; I want these folks to keep coming. But the discovery was. It validates a U.S. Department of Energy estimate that 80 percent of EV charging happens at home, which is much less expensive than commercial chargers. 

Blonde Bride and I knew this because her Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid gets its go-juice that way. Yes, we still have a gasoline engine and fuel tank, and when the plug-in battery wears down, we motor down the highway at 40 mpg. In the first eight months we owned the car we bought 10 gallons of gas, and she averaged close to 132 mpg.

Most of the car’s work is done by the energy that comes from a wall outlet. Detail-oriented Blue-Eyed Beauty informs me this has increased our monthly electric bill by less than $1.50. By that reckoning, it cost me about 50 cents to put more than 225 miles on the roomy, seven-passenger EV9.

How much did you give the oil companies last week?

Two charging levels exist in the 70,000 commercial charging stations in the U.S. It is hard to be precise because the number is expanding by about 25% annually. Unfortunately, the network is not expanding uniformly.

In Dallas, there are 284 charging points. In Texarkana, there are three, but the only Level 3 chargers—the fastest—work only on Teslas.

Level 3 chargers can take a battery from 0% to 80% capacity in 15-30 minutes, depending on the vehicle. From my experience, Level 3 chargers cost about 60-65% of what it would cost to go the same distance on gasoline. Level 2 chargers are less expensive but require 8-10 hours to charge an EV fully. 

Level 1 is ridiculously less expensive but requires three or four days to fully charge a depleted battery, which never happens if the car is plugged in with the same frequency as a cell phone.

Hold off on EVs

I am not saying that you should rush out and buy an EV, although common sense and logic say the halcyon days of the ICE age are drawing nigh. 

Here is some math. Assume carmakers are equally adept at engineering, manufacturing, and assembly and get things right 99.9% of the time. Everybody is a Honda or Toyota. At that rate, an internal combustion engine with more than 2,000 moving parts develops more than 20 problems. At the same ratio, an electric motor with less than 200 parts will have fewer than two.

Did you see where Toyota said it would replace 102,000 V-6 engines because a machining error left metal shards in the oil galleys? Imagine the stir if that happened to an EV maker.

One lesson history teaches is that victory goes to the efficient. A country superior at trade, manufacturing, or creativity will economically dominate less efficient ones; an army more efficient at killing will win on the battlefield. A company with more efficient manufacturing or marketing will win in the business world.

Gas engines turn about 30% of the energy that flows through them into power. The rest is lost in heat or goes out the tailpipe. Electric motors convert more than 90% of energy into power and do not have tailpipes. Put your money on the EVs.

Just not right now. Rapid advances in motor and battery technology are emerging nearly every day. Solid-state batteries – lighter, more durable, and with twice the range – are  ready to emerge from the labs and into factories. Toyota says it will have them in cars by 2027 or 2028. 

Radial flux motors, called pancake motors, are almost flat, lighter, stronger, and less expensive. These motors have survived proof-of-concept testing, and manufacturers are beginning to figure out how to build them in mass.

On the other hand, Nissan’s failure to produce either more power or better fuel economy from its variable-compression engines seems to indicate that the internal combustion engine is approaching a developmental apogee.

Please don’t get me going on hydrogen or bio-fuel engines. I will believe it when I see it.

EV9 is a Spacious and Stylish Option

However, if I lived in a metropolitan area, the 2024 Kia EV9, starting at $54,900, would be an intelligent choice. Pay an electrician to wire a Level 2 charger into your panel, and it can power your home for a week.

It advances an emerging technology into a capable and flexible vehicle that provides room, comfort, and safety. Using clean-sheet designs for driveline, frame, and suspension components, it is astonishingly fast on pavement yet powerfully competent off the beaten path.

It is easy to see why Kia is stealing market share from Tesla. The EV 9 appeals to a broad spectrum of consumers. Young families seeking a spacious and practical option will find much to love, while older, loyal Kia customers appreciate the brand’s reliability and commitment to sustainable transportation.

Aesthetics, Technology, and Sustainability: A Winning Trifecta

The EV9’s design is a head-turner. Bold lines and a muscular stance exude sophistication, while the available two-tone paint schemes add a touch of personality. 

Inside, the cabin is both stylish and technologically advanced. High-quality materials and a minimalist design philosophy create a welcoming ambiance. A user-friendly infotainment system with charging ports for all three rows keeps everyone connected and entertained on the go. 

Second-row captain’s chairs (available in higher trims) offer an extra touch of luxury and individual space. With the rear seats folded down, the EV9 boasts a generous 81.7 cubic feet of cargo space, ideal for family vacations, shopping sprees, or hauling outdoor gear.

Powertrain and AWD for Stability and Confidence

The EV9 boasts two electric motor options. The standard rear-wheel-drive setup delivers a healthy 311 horsepower, while the all-wheel-drive variant bumps up to 379 horsepower. Both configurations utilize a large battery pack, offering a targeted range of 280 miles (RWD) and 304 miles (AWD) on a single charge.

The AWD system seamlessly distributes power between the front and rear axles, ensuring excellent stability and traction in diverse weather conditions. The EV9 is astonishing when pushed through tight turns—a rocket sled on rails.

Considering that everything is drive-by-wire, and that driver feedback is a function of software, not mechanical connectors, the vehicle is dialed in well. The steering feels heavy, reminding the driver that this is a hefty machine.

That mass allows it to traverse a deplorably maintained county road while insulating passengers from uneven, falling, and potholed tarmac. 

Crawling underneath this machine reveals how that happens. The most significant piece of mass, the battery pack, is centered amid a stamped body structure and fastened with through bolts. It is aligned with the driveline, giving the car balance, structural continuity, and well-integrated collision protection.

Aluminum control arms in the rear and A-arms in the front are pricey for the niche but provide a premium ride and control feel.

Switch on the torque monitor, which shows power going to each wheel, and one begins to understand why this tiger perpetually screams across the landscape with all four feet on the ground. 

Competition in the Evolving EV Landscape

The EV9 faces stiff competition from established players like the Tesla Model X and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Model X offers a more extended range and a unique “falcon-wing” door design, but its starting MSRP is significantly higher. The Mach-E is a compelling choice for those seeking a sportier driving experience, but it sacrifices some cargo space compared to the EV9. Overall, the EV9 is a well-rounded option in the growing electric SUV segment.

Safety First: Suite of Advanced Technologies

The EV9 prioritizes safety with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional packages add features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree surround-view camera.

Typical for Kia, all the driver-assist tech works well.

Reviews Roundup: A Positive Outlook

Reviews across major car publications paint a positive picture of the 2024 Kia EV9. Edmunds.com praises its spacious interior and long driving range, while Car and Driver highlights its comfortable ride and user-friendly technology. Motor Trend commends the EV9’s value proposition, and Consumer Reports anticipates good reliability based on Kia’s track record with electric vehicles and the superior reliability of electric vehicles.

If you have been listening to the anti-EV crowd hype, you probably find that last sentence questionable. The facts:

• The National Transportation Safety Board found that EVs had 25 fires for every 100,000 sold; cars with gasoline engines had 1,530 fires per 100,000. 
• The U.S. Department of Energy found that of all the electric and hybrid vehicles produced since 2011, 98.5% still had their original batteries.

Hype is always more engaging than truth.