Kia Ireland has launched KiaCharge, a European-wide integrated public charging service that will give drivers easier access to public vehicle charging, writes Trish Whelan.
KiaCharge provides more access to the Irish, UK and European public charging network than any equivalent service. This service is now live and the app is available to download from Google Play and Apple App Store.
Owners of the brand’s BEVs (battery electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) can access more than 1,400 charge points across Ireland from a single account eliminating the need for drivers to sign up to separate accounts with multiple charging point operators or pre-pay with others. It provides access to major charging networks, including ESB, EasyGo and IONITY.
Kia BEV and PHEV owners can access KiaCharge via a smartphone app or radio-frequency identification card.
Payments are made via a single itemised monthly invoice.
The service offers a choice of two fully flexible tariffs for all customers. ‘Easy’ and ‘Plus’. The ‘Easy’ tariff is for light users with a one-off €2.49 charge to access the service. Most charging stations require a €0.49 ‘session fee’ when users plug in, with the users then paying per kWh of electricity. The ‘Plus’ is for those who rely more heavily on public charging. They pay a €3.95 monthly tariff.
Recently awarded the title ‘Irish Car of the Year’, the Kia EV6 (pictured) will be able to use the high-speed charging capabilities of the IONITY network, thanks to its 800V maximum charging capacity. All EV6 owners registered this year get a 12-month free subscription to IONITY Power, just paying for the charging session at €0.27 per kW/h used. KiaCharge is available to all owners of existing and future Kia BEV and PHEV models.
Drivers can sign-up to the service, order an RFID card, and manage their account via the app or online at www.kiacharge.com.
KiaCharge was created in partnership with Digital Charging Solutions and the service. With eRoaming, drivers can access more than 315,000 additional charging points across 28 other European countries without the need for additional contracts.
Kia EV6 driver Sarah Jane Cooney from Drogheda and Managing Director of Kia Ireland, Ronan Flood, are pictured above at the launch of the new KiaCharge Card.
