A surprising result for the Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD in AMCI Testing’s latest MP6® Real World, Fast-Charge Test

Highest-speed charging at Tesla Superchargers proves elusive even with EV6’s engineering sophistication.

Los Angeles, CA. January 23, 2024 

As evidenced by the amount of charging speed conversation at CES, AMCI Testing’s new MP6® testing standard continues to yield valuable, and often surprising, real-world results and the industry is starting to take notice. Why? While price and charging infrastructure have been capturing headlines, charging speed is becoming an issue as the market becomes more mainstream. The mainstream market will depend more on public charging, and nobody wants to spend one more minute than they must at a charger, particularly during a Chicago winter! MP6® approximates the average ICE vehicles’ 6-minute fueling time.

The transition to electrification is multi-faceted and in a state of flux due to slower consumer uptake and the need for OEMs to comply with ever more stringent CO2 reduction requirements. “Kia, unlike some other OEMs, has not shied away from maintaining their huge commitment and technical innovation in the creation of their EV platforms,” said David Stokols, CEO of AMCI Testing’s parent company, AMCI Global. “Revealing all the complexities and engineering trade-offs inherent in EV design, in the MP6® charge-test interval, EV6 only placed mid-pack despite being a leader in EV.”

As a reminder, the MP6® test regimen currently takes place at the nation’s most available public charging network—the Tesla Supercharger fitted with its ‘Magic Dock’ adapter—and measures miles of range added from 10% SOC (state of charge) within 6 minutes.

AMCI Testing MP6® Leaderboard Results: 

1st placeToyota bZ4X35.0 MP6
2nd placeFord Mustang Mach-E32.5 MP6
3rd placeMercedes-Benz EQE31.5 MP6
4th placeHyundai IONIQ 528.0 MP6
5th placeKia EV6 GT-Line RWD23.0 MP6
6th placeFord F-150 Lightning22.0 MP6
7th placeRivian R1S20.5 MP6

“There are many design and engineering parameters that determine charging performance, and it is the interplay between all of these factors that creates a great MP6® result,” said Guy Mangiamele, Director of AMCI Testing. “On the Tesla Supercharger, EV6 GT-Line RWD achieved a consistent peak-charge rate of 97 kW. That was lower than what we measured for the 1st Place Toyota bZ4X, for example, which was 137 kW. However, we did see EV6 rates as high as 195 kW on the 350 kW EA charger, using the identical MP6® protocol.” 

In the coming weeks and months, as OEMs provide vehicles, AMCI Testing will publish further MP6® test results with commentary on the experience. Go to www.amcitesting.com to sign up to receive updates as they occur. 

For further information please contact: 

Ian Beavis, Chief Strategy officer at AMCI Global; Ph 714 813 6300 or Email ibeavis@amciglobal.com  

 

About AMCI Testing 

AMCI testing is an independent automotive research firm, specializing in unbiased, exclusive, comparative evaluations of automotive products since 1984. The breadth of our testing includes ICE, HEV, PHEV, BEV, FCEV powertrains and every facet of measurement and product category. AMCI Testing Certification is recognized globally as an industry gold standard. 

FAST CHARGING STANDARD

In the absence of a national standard, MP6 uses the most reliable, accessible network to date: Tesla Supercharger and its ‘Magic Dock’ adapter.

Play Video

WHY WE CHOSE 6 MINUTES.

Six minutes is the average time it takes to fuel an ICE vehicle. When you are out of charge or time in your EV, charging speed is what counts. Further, “To achieve the environmental promise of EVs there needs to be a greater emphasis on fast charging, not range,” according to AMCI Global CEO, David Stokols.

CHARGING SPEED OR RANGE?

According to Guy Mangiamele, Director of AMCI Testing, “There needs to be equal emphasis on vehicle range and charging speed. Regardless of range, when on the road, when short of time, or short of range, charging speed is what really matters.”

TEST METHODOLOGY

With EV charging methodology established over a decade, our proprietary protocol begins with 10% state of charge, MP6 is calculated over numerous charging sessions at stations always exceeding the vehicle’s maximum charge rate.

AMCI TESTING

AMCI Testing is an independent automotive research firm, specializing in unbiased, evaluations of automotive products since 1984. The breadth of our testing includes ICE, EVs, Hybrids, FCEV and other powertrains plus every facet of measurement and product category. AMCI Testing Certification is recognized as an industry gold standard.

amcitesting.com

[novashare_inline_content]

SUBSCRIBE TO MP6 ALERTS