Kia drivers using the brand’s Kia Charge service will now able to recharge with 100% green energy. The Korean brand, which is already works with IONITY, is ramping up its commitment to renewables through its partnership with Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), which operates the service on behalf of the brand.
As with other charging brands that promise 100% renewable power, Kia and DCS will work out the amount of energy used by customers to charge their electric vehicles. Kia will then purchase the equivalent number of megawatt-hours (MWhs) through ‘Guarantee of Origin’ (GO) certificates. In Kia’s case, the renewable energy comes from wind power, and DCS will use the GOs to supply the grid with more green energy. This is turn is added to the grid supply mix which is used to power charge points.
The Kia Charge service was launched in the UK in February 2021 and allows drivers to access multiple networks via a single card or app. Drivers are then billed at the end of the month for the energy they have used. Since launch, the number of UK charging points accessible to Kia Charge customers has grown by around 44 per cent to more than 20,500 – accounting for 69 per cent of the UK charging network. This includes around 2,500 DC rapid chargers that account for 75 per cent of Kia Charge users’ charging activity in the UK.
23 UK charging networks are part of Kia Charge. Major networks available via Kia Charge include bp pulse, IONITY, Pod Point, Source London, Instavolt, Shell NewMotion, Osprey, Char.gy, and ESB. According to Kia, Kia Charge has supplied more than 264 MWh of charging to UK users.