Kia Charge, the exclusive service for Kia customers aimed at simplifying public EV charging, has expanded its reach to over 30,000 connectors in the UK, offering seamless access to a growing number of DC connectors. The service has experienced a 48% growth in the total number of connectors, with over 100kW chargers nearly tripling in number (189% growth) in the past 12 months.
Kia Charge has more than doubled the number of connectors available in the UK since its launch in February 2021, which reflects the company’s successful efforts to add new operators to its solution, as well as the strong growth in electric charging infrastructure. As of February 2023, the service offers Kia owners access to more DC connectors in the UK than any other brand, with all networks accessible through a single Kia Charge account that provides a monthly invoice for all public charging.
The service has expanded its network to include 27 different charging networks, with 26,800 AC chargers (up 49%) and over 10% (3,500) rapid DC chargers (50-350kW), over 900 of which offer more than 100kW. The high-power charging operator, IONITY, has increased its connector numbers to 99 (up 32%) across 19 UK locations, with plans to more than double its UK locations by the end of the year.
DC charging is essential for enabling electric vehicle owners to quickly recharge their vehicles while traveling to a destination. In 2023, an average of over 5,700 charging sessions took place per month via Kia Charge in the UK, with the number growing every month as more Kia EV customers sign up for the service.
In 2022, Kia’s record-breaking year in the UK was due in part to sales of its plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, which accounted for over 20% of all brand sales last year. As of early 2023, plug-in and EV sales continue to perform strongly, accounting for over a quarter of Kia UK’s sales year-to-date.
