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It’s not every single day {that a} publish in an EV homeowners’ group sparks real admiration and well mannered disbelief in equal measure, however a number 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: practically 75,000 miles of problem-free electrical driving. And it didn’t include a protracted checklist of repairs or guarantee calls, simply three routine replacements – certainly one of them a voluntary improve.
SightSee EV wrote the next within the Kia EV6 House owners USA public Fb group:
“I’m glad 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 12 months guarantee. Apart from new tires at 54,000 and new wipers I’ve had no issues. We have now 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 amount of householders in the identical group reporting every little thing from bricked autos to ICCU failures and long-term supplier limbo. SightSee’s publish was met with reward and even a bit envy, as one member, Barry Schader, replied:
“Congratulations! Mine has about 11k miles and went useless 103 days in the past. It is sitting on the supplier’s lot and I’ve received a Chevy Malibu rental.”
These two experiences couldn’t be extra totally 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 supplier decision. And this distinction raises a deeper query: Is this sort of long-term EV reliability uncommon, or simply underreported?
An EV6 That Simply Works: The Worth of Proactive Upkeep
One refined but essential element in SightSee’s publish is his 12-volt battery substitute at 38,000 miles. This isn’t all the time a reactive restore. Many homeowners 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 useless 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 fundamental car communications. If it dies, your $50,000 car could act like a brick. SightSee’s expertise means that changing it earlier than it fails could possibly be one 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 count on from a well-kept Camry, not a cutting-edge electrical crossover.
The Lengthy-Distance Story EV6 Critics Don’t Usually Hear
One other a part of SightSee EV’s expertise price highlighting is simply how far and extensive he’s pushed the automobile: from Mexico to Canada and all through the Midwest, with out difficulty. For these interested in how the EV6 performs throughout lengthy street journeys, which may sound like an anomaly. However others have examined the EV6 over lengthy distances and walked away with attention-grabbing, and at occasions stunning, outcomes.
Torque Information contributor Noah Washington lately reported a narrative, during which one EV6 proprietor took a 400-mile journey in an EV6 and in contrast driving at 65 mph versus 80 mph. The stunning outcome? Regardless of consuming extra power at 80 mph, he saved nearly a full hour of drive time. In different phrases, should you plan and perceive your EV’s habits, long-distance driving generally is a robust level, not a weak point.
For SightSee EV, this implies over 70,000 miles of street familiarity and confidence. However the broader reality is that not all homeowners have had that clean of a trip.
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 car and verify energy provide” warning on his EV6. After AAA misdiagnosed it as a battery difficulty and $250 later, the automobile needed to be flatbed towed to a Kia supplier, the place he was instructed that they had by no means changed that individual $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 supplier needed to ship somebody to choose up a clip from one other location. His story is a reminder that even an awesome EV design can’t outpace an unprepared service division.
In much more excessive instances, 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 sluggish supplier 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 publish. It’s a blueprint for sensible EV possession. He didn’t await issues to fail. He upgraded earlier than hassle 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 could quietly beat the percentages, even when the web boards usually highlight the worst-case eventualities.
The ethical right here? Should you personal or are purchasing for an EV6, your expertise could also be higher than you count on, 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 might sound uncommon, however it’s additionally repeatable. In order for you your EV6 to go the gap with minimal drama, listed below are a number of sensible steps you possibly can take, impressed straight by his expertise and what different homeowners have discovered the exhausting means:
- Substitute your 12V battery proactively round 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Think about selecting a higher-quality AGM or lithium battery with an extended guarantee.
- Test tire put on and rotate persistently. Whereas tires are anticipated to wear down, uneven put on may also be an indication of alignment or suspension points creating early.
- Replace your software program repeatedly on the supplier or by way of over-the-air updates when obtainable. These updates usually embody essential fixes for ICCU logic, cost habits, and thermal administration.
- Drive and cost reasonably. Keep away from frequent DC quick charging until essential, and don’t all the time cost to 100% until you’re road-tripping.
- Maintain data 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 wish to use a fundamental OBD-II reader with EV diagnostic apps to watch 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 substitute 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 under.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque Information. He based TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing professional information and evaluation in regards to the automotive trade. He could 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 goal. The second picture is by Armen Hareyan.
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