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It’s not on daily basis {that a} submit in an EV homeowners’ group sparks real admiration and well mannered disbelief in equal measure, however a couple of days in the past, a member named SightSee EV did simply that. Whereas some EV6 homeowners wrestle with warning lights, flatbed tows, or lengthy waits on the dealership, he shared what many would name an outlier expertise: almost 75,000 miles of problem-free electrical driving. And it didn’t include an extended listing of repairs or guarantee calls, simply three routine replacements – one in every of them a voluntary improve.
SightSee EV wrote the next within the Kia EV6 House owners USA public Fb group:
“I’m pleased to report that I’m about to cross 75,000 miles with zero issues. Changed the 12 volt at 38,000 miles with an upgraded model with 5 yr guarantee. Aside from new tires at 54,000 and new wipers I’ve had no issues. We now have pushed from Mexico to Canada and a large swatch of the mid west.”
That type of assertion can cease a reader chilly, particularly given the quantity of homeowners in the identical group reporting all the things from bricked autos to ICCU failures and long-term vendor limbo. SightSee’s submit was met with reward and even just a little envy, as one member, Barry Schader, replied:
“Congratulations! Mine has about 11k miles and went lifeless 103 days in the past. It is sitting on the vendor’s lot and I’ve obtained a Chevy Malibu rental.”
These two experiences couldn’t be extra completely different. One driver is quietly crossing state and worldwide borders with no points. One other is on day 103 with out his EV6, counting on a rental and ready for vendor decision. And this distinction raises a deeper query: Is this type of long-term EV reliability uncommon, or simply underreported?
An EV6 That Simply Works: The Worth of Proactive Upkeep
One delicate but vital element in SightSee’s submit is his 12-volt battery alternative at 38,000 miles. This isn’t at all times a reactive restore. Many house owners within the EV neighborhood have began proactively swapping the factory-installed 12V battery for higher-quality AGM or lithium alternate options with longer warranties, particularly after listening to tales like this one the place a lifeless 12V stranded an EV6 after simply 11,500 miles.
For EVs, the common-or-garden 12-volt battery is the gatekeeper for startup, charging handshake, and even primary automobile communications. If it dies, your $50,000 automobile might act like a brick. SightSee’s expertise means that changing it earlier than it fails might be some of the ignored steps towards long-term peace of thoughts.
Add to {that a} set of recent tires and recent wipers, and also you’re a really regular service historical past: one thing you’d anticipate from a well-kept Camry, not a cutting-edge electrical crossover.
The Lengthy-Distance Story EV6 Critics Don’t Typically Hear
One other a part of SightSee EV’s expertise value highlighting is simply how far and vast he’s pushed the automobile: from Mexico to Canada and all through the Midwest, with out problem. For these interested in how the EV6 performs throughout lengthy highway journeys, which may sound like an anomaly. However others have examined the EV6 over lengthy distances and walked away with fascinating, and at instances stunning, outcomes.
Torque Information contributor Noah Washington not too long ago reported a narrative, by which one EV6 proprietor took a 400-mile journey in an EV6 and in contrast driving at 65 mph versus 80 mph. The stunning consequence? Regardless of consuming extra vitality at 80 mph, he saved virtually a full hour of drive time. In different phrases, for those who plan and perceive your EV’s conduct, long-distance driving could be a sturdy level, not a weak spot.
For SightSee EV, this implies over 70,000 miles of highway familiarity and confidence. However the broader reality is that not all homeowners have had that clean of a journey.
The EV6 Possession Hole: When Issues Go Fallacious and Keep Fallacious
As inspiring as SightSee EV’s story is, it solely tells half the story. For some homeowners, the expertise has been extra irritating than liberating. Take the case of Chris Patterson, who at 20,000 miles acquired a “Cease the automobile and verify energy provide” warning on his EV6. After AAA misdiagnosed it as a battery problem and $250 later, the automobile needed to be flatbed towed to a Kia vendor, the place he was advised that they had by no means changed that exact $2,100 half earlier than.
The story didn’t finish there. Chris was given a loaner, which had a flat tire the second he drove it away. Then one other loaner. The vendor needed to ship somebody to choose up a clip from one other location. His story is a reminder that even a terrific EV design can’t outpace an unprepared service division.
In much more excessive circumstances, like with the Kia EV9, a Torque Information report documented a $65,000 EV9 sitting untouched at a dealership since December 2nd, allegedly over a rat and painfully gradual vendor response.
What We Can Be taught From Excessive-Mileage House owners Like SightSee EV
SightSee EV’s success story is greater than only a feel-good submit. It’s a blueprint for sensible EV possession. He didn’t anticipate issues to fail. He upgraded earlier than bother began. He didn’t assume EVs are magic, maintenance-free pods. He did the little issues that matter, like staying forward of battery points and monitoring tire put on.
His story additionally reveals that consistency and care might quietly beat the chances, even when the net boards typically highlight the worst-case eventualities.
The ethical right here? Should you personal or are searching for an EV6, your expertise could also be higher than you anticipate, however provided that you respect the expertise, keep engaged, and don’t deal with routine upkeep as non-obligatory simply because there is not any oil change.
Sensible Steps to Maintain Your Kia EV6 Dependable Previous 75,000 Miles
SightSee EV’s success may appear uncommon, however it’s additionally repeatable. In order for you your EV6 to go the gap with minimal drama, listed here are a couple of good steps you possibly can take, impressed instantly by his expertise and what different homeowners have discovered the laborious approach:
- Substitute your 12V battery proactively round 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Take into account selecting a higher-quality AGM or lithium battery with an extended guarantee.
- Verify tire put on and rotate constantly. Whereas tires are anticipated to wear down, uneven put on will also be an indication of alignment or suspension points creating early.
- Replace your software program recurrently on the vendor or by way of over-the-air updates when obtainable. These updates typically embody vital fixes for ICCU logic, cost conduct, and thermal administration.
- Drive and cost reasonably. Keep away from frequent DC quick charging until crucial, and don’t at all times cost to one hundred pc until you’re road-tripping.
- Maintain information and log patterns. If something uncommon occurs – even briefly – write it down. This helps you describe points higher and spot early warning indicators.
You may additionally need to use a primary OBD-II reader with EV diagnostic apps to observe your battery’s well being and charging stats. Some homeowners who took this step noticed low cell voltages or irregular present draw earlier than any warning lights got here on. These are small habits, however over time, they are often the distinction between a quiet 75,000-mile journey and a 103-day dealership nightmare.
Have you ever needed to exchange your 12-volt battery in an EV sooner than anticipated, or have you ever made any upgrades that improved your EV’s reliability? How has your EV6 or EV9 held up throughout long-distance journeys? Share your expertise within the feedback beneath.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque Information. He based TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing skilled information and evaluation in regards to the automotive trade. He may be reached at Torque Information Twitter, Fb, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has greater than a decade of experience within the automotive trade with a particular curiosity in Tesla and electrical autos.
Picture supply: SightSee EV’s Kia EV6 picture from the above-mentioned public group on Fb and used for news-reporting objective. The second picture is by Armen Hareyan.
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