I didn’t mind the NACS to CVS adapter situation at first, where only cars bought after September 2024 get a free adapter. But now I hear Hyundai EV buyers are getting it free no matter when they purchased. I filed a complaint with Kia through their app.
Here’s what I mentioned:
Their marketing team needs to look into how much damage this will do to their brand.
The cost of fixing this damage will probably be higher than just giving Kia buyers the same treatment as Hyundai buyers.
Kia customers might not come back to the brand if they feel like they’re treated as second-class owners.
They should pay attention to what people on this forum are saying about their decision.
If you own a Kia EV, I suggest filing a similar complaint. Maybe we can convince them to change their approach.
I work in engineering for HMG. You should know that Hyundai and Kia are totally separate when it comes to sales. Even though their cars are almost the same underneath, Hyundai and Kia see each other as rivals in the market.
@Brady
That makes it even more important for Kia to match Hyundai. Look at how Ford outdid GM when they offered free home charger installs. Hyundai giving the adapter to everyone is a big move, and Kia should follow their lead.
@Brady
Since you work with HMG, can you explain why they went with NACS when it’s slower for 800V cars? It feels like a step back, especially with fewer locations.
Landry said: @Brady
Since you work with HMG, can you explain why they went with NACS when it’s slower for 800V cars? It feels like a step back, especially with fewer locations.
The slower charging issue is more about Tesla’s current Supercharger stations, not the NACS connector itself. Once chargers that support 800V are more common, the speeds will be similar. NACS is becoming more popular, and until then, adapters can fill the gap.
@Ari
Switching to NACS was all about getting access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. No other network prioritises NACS over CCS, and I doubt we’ll see a performance difference outside Tesla’s chargers.
Landry said: @Brady
Since you work with HMG, can you explain why they went with NACS when it’s slower for 800V cars? It feels like a step back, especially with fewer locations.
NACS isn’t inherently slower on 800V systems. It’s the chargers that were built for 400V that cause slower speeds. The newer NACS chargers being developed will fix this. I think NACS is going to be the standard soon.
Landry said: @Flann
I’ve used both NACS and CCS with multiple EVs. I’d still stick with CCS for its faster charging speeds.
Tesla’s current chargers are slow for 800V cars because they’re built for 400V. The newer V4 Tesla chargers will support 800V, and our cars will charge just as fast on them as they do with Electrify America.
Getting a free adapter would be nice, but I’m not too upset if it doesn’t happen. When I bought my car, it wasn’t part of the deal. I’m just happy I’ll even be able to use Tesla chargers now. Paying a couple of hundred dollars for the adapter feels reasonable to me.
I’m not too bothered. I spent $60,000 on a car and now need to pay $250 for an adapter to use NACS. It’s a small cost for access to more charging options, especially with networks moving away from CCS. I ordered a Typhoon Pro adapter from A2Z, and I’ll be ready for my next road trip. The Supercharger network near my mum’s place will be a great backup.