Kia EV6 beats Tesla to set new charging record in NY-to-LA run

LOS ANGELES: Kia’s all-new 2022 EV6 crossover recently made Guinness World Records history, travelling 4634.7 km with the shortest charging time to cross the United States in an electric vehicle.

During the seven-day trek from New York City to Los Angeles, the EV6 was plugged in for a scant 7 hours 10 minutes and 1 second, beating previous record holder, Tesla, by more than five and a half hours (12 hours, 48 minutes, and 19 seconds).

“The EV6’s record-setting run is the latest signal that Kia will be a leader in the populariSation of electric vehicles,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America.

Kia did not state which Tesla model it beat but the information it provided narrowed it down to the Model S P85D, which completed the same trip in 2015 in 58 hours and 55 minutes, including 12 hours and 48 minutes for charging.

Arriving in showrooms in early 2022, the EV6 is the first model to be launched under Kia’s Plan S strategy which puts electrification at the forefront of the company’s future.

Kia’s first electric vehicle has achieved product carbon footprint certification and "Carbon Measured" label from the global climate change and sustainability consultancy the Carbon Trust, becoming the first Korean vehicle manufacturer to achieve the certificate.

The EV6 is currently on display at the Nov 19-28 LA Auto Show.