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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 a protracted checklist of repairs or guarantee calls, simply three routine replacements – considered one of them a voluntary improve.
SightSee EV wrote the next within the Kia EV6 Homeowners 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 12 months guarantee. Apart 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 form of assertion can cease a reader chilly, particularly given the quantity of householders in the identical group reporting the whole lot from bricked autos to ICCU failures and long-term supplier limbo. SightSee’s submit was met with reward and even somewhat 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 type 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 submit is his 12-volt battery substitute at 38,000 miles. This isn’t at all times a reactive restore. Many homeowners within the EV group 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 may very well be probably the most neglected steps towards long-term peace of thoughts.
Add to {that a} set of latest tires and contemporary 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 value highlighting is simply how far and vast he’s pushed the automotive: from Mexico to Canada and all through the Midwest, with out challenge. For these interested by 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 fascinating, and at instances shocking, 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 shocking end result? Regardless of consuming extra vitality at 80 mph, he saved nearly a full hour of drive time. In different phrases, in case you plan and perceive your EV’s conduct, long-distance driving generally is a robust level, not a weak spot.
For SightSee EV, this implies over 70,000 miles of street familiarity and confidence. However the broader fact is that not all homeowners have had that easy of a journey.
The EV6 Possession Hole: When Issues Go Flawed and Keep Flawed
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 obtained a “Cease the car and examine energy provide” warning on his EV6. After AAA misdiagnosed it as a battery challenge and $250 later, the automotive needed to be flatbed towed to a Kia supplier, the place he was informed they’d 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 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 sluggish supplier response.
What We Can Study From Excessive-Mileage Homeowners 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 watch for 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 net boards typically highlight the worst-case eventualities.
The ethical right here? For those who personal or are purchasing for an EV6, your expertise could also be higher than you count on, however provided that you respect the know-how, keep engaged, and don’t deal with routine upkeep as non-obligatory simply because there is no oil change.
Sensible Steps to Preserve Your Kia EV6 Dependable Previous 75,000 Miles
SightSee EV’s success may appear uncommon, but it surely’s additionally repeatable. If you would like your EV6 to go the gap with minimal drama, listed here are a couple of sensible steps you’ll be able to take, impressed instantly by his expertise and what different homeowners have realized the exhausting method:
- Change 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 constantly. Whereas tires are anticipated to wear down, uneven put on can be an indication of alignment or suspension points creating early.
- Replace your software program usually on the supplier or by way of over-the-air updates when out there. These updates typically embrace vital fixes for ICCU logic, cost conduct, and thermal administration.
- Drive and cost reasonably. Keep away from frequent DC quick charging except vital, and don’t at all times cost to one hundred pc except you’re road-tripping.
- Preserve 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 also need 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 change 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 knowledgeable information and evaluation concerning the automotive business. He could be reached at Torque Information Twitter, Fb, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has greater than a decade of experience within the automotive business 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 function. The second picture is by Armen Hareyan.
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