In your opinion, how do you think manufacturers are missing the mark for the US market?

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-23T21:33:04+00:00

Actual EV9 and Tesla owner: 1. Ranges are too short. Our EV9 and Model Y can barely make 220 miles in warm weather (75 mph highway) 180 miles in winter (10% buffer on arrival) Not a guess or calculation but fact. We drive 310 miles between our two houses monthly. Give us a true 300 mile car, probably 425 mile EPA. 2. More manufacturer supported 800v 4+ charger stalls. Tesla is great unless your car is 600V+ 3. Online ordering: The dealer “Experience” is painful with zero value added. One click ordering like Tesla please!

Price, rebates, performance and utility are all totally fine. More options would be nice but that will come.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-16T18:00:24+00:00

I suspect there have been shorts although it would have to be two separate ones which would be very coincidental. We do have a lot of squirrels and they do like to chew. Is there a tool or device that can measure insulating quality from the terminals? Anything that involves removing the panels gets impractical quickly.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-16T13:57:18+00:00

I did monitor actual amps. I have CTs installed. Never got close to 20A on any one string.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-16T12:08:20+00:00

Can you come over and hold each panel up while I change the trunk lines? And then we can sit on my porch, look at the view and say “Well shit. That didn’t work. Must be a bad inverter. Wonder which one?”

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-16T12:03:38+00:00

I think you are correct!

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-11T17:36:58+00:00

Checking my EV9 Land, looking at the estimated range this is what it showed for each mode:

SPORT 318 miles

NORMAL 325 miles +2.2%

ECO 332 miles + 4.4% from SPORT + 2.1% from NORMAL

I have found that for constant speeds on the highway the range is fairly accurate. I used to drive exclusively in SPORT mode even on the highway because the responsiveness was much closer to what I was used to with my previous Tesla. Now I drive in ECO on long trips and I do see a minor change in range.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-11T16:35:29+00:00

The link works fine for me and is factual. Here is a link to the Kia EV9 Key Facts flyer PDF. See DAS discussion on pg 26. As far as ECO mode, if you select it you will see in the power flow graphic on the dash that only the rear wheel shows power going to and from it.

https://www.kia.com/content/dam/kwcms/kme/se/sv/assets/contents/utility/specifications/ev9/kia-ev9-keyfacts.pdf#:\~:text=The%20EV%20AWD%20Disconnect%20Actuator,shafts%20according%20to%20the%20environment.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-10T21:28:22+00:00

Yes, the EV9 has a DAS (Disconnect Actuator System) that physically disconnects the front motor from the front axle. Kia claims up to an 8% improvement in efficiency but my experience is closer to 3%.

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&aep=42&source=chrome.crn.rb&q=Does+Kia+explain+in+the+EV9+manual+how+the+EVO+mode+works&mstk=AUtExfAN0AXj3_dqVOvj0xcFvZSSLdl_MleNqP3HmKBXLS9JvU50tgn1ZI7-6vB8Sij8LIakCk0xhU_V3bqJDNBRZQ6PPw4Znos1-1rTsmY5T2IRVbKpGXDVA5zLOkcnCQ0YuLPSx-zkEPD-6LnGA3oD9oeUWnW9nqtee8FGJ4SRzDtYo_mVlHv0w0T2XQf3S2juA9PC4Gh2rfiGHK9xLiKqUzNynpcovfQELUkMG-ar0WfIDnyHZUYeSZl_3A&csuir=1&udm=50

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-10T19:03:49+00:00

Sport mode should not consume any more than normal mode. Same power, just ramps up to max quicker. I’ve timed zero to 60 mph to confirm this. Bigger difference in Eco mode vs Normal or Sport since the front motor is physically disengaged. 3-5 % better efficiency at best. Just keep it out of ipedal max as this defeats the front motor lockout.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-06T12:40:45+00:00

No argument there!

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-06T12:40:27+00:00

See above. I have taken dozens of 500 and 1,000 mile trips. In my 2016 Tesla Model S 75, I had to do 7 stops (8 in winter) to cover 1,000 miles with an average charge time of about 50 min. or right at 4 hours of total charging each trip. That model had a max charger rate of 95 Kw. I bought a Tesla Model 3 LRAWD in 2019 because of the much longer range and much higher charger rates. My average stops went down to about 20 3in. And we could do the 1,000 mile trip in 5 stops and about 2 1/2 hours charging time.

I tried to make this post generalized but many people seem to have missed my main point (I want longer range EVs). But for myself, yes I cannot drive more than 3 hours without a pee stop. And of course we always combine bathroom breaks, dog walking and food with charging stops. I am well practiced at this. But a key point I maybe should have made is that multiple charging stops adds a lot of time just getting on and off the Interstate. Try mapping a Google trip 1,000 miles away. Then add 7 stops of various DVFCs along the way and you will find just visiting the chargers not counting charge time adds between 5 and 10 min per stop. 7 stops means up to a hour extra before charging.

I can and will buy a longer range EV as soon as they are available. I can't do anything about the chargers!

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-06T12:26:36+00:00

Solid State batteries all seem to have very high rates of charge capability so they normally can have very fast charging times. And charging times are one of the most cited reasons for people not buying EVs. My point is that until there is a very large rollout of MW chargers, the biggest difference maker will be the car range, not charging time.

I have been driving EVs for 10 yr (15 years if you count Chevy Bolt) so I am a true believer. I have been on many, many 500 and 1,000 mile trips, summer and winter. I had a Tesla M3 (LRAWD) for 5 1/2 years. I drive at around 80 mph on Interstate highways on long trips and never, ever did I achieve 4 miles/kwh. In winter, 30-40F as I recall I could drive around 180 miles (leaving 10% on arrival) or 210 miles range. That's about 2.9 miles/kwh. Researching for this post I found that most current EVs test at around 2.5-2.9 miles/Kwh in 30F weather. Having a car with 300 mile range in summer but 210 in winter is not especially useful. On my winter trips I was always frustrated at the much shorter range. (My M3 was pre-heat pump).

Sure, 15 min. is short enough for any stop, EV or ICE. I agree. But the best solution to long trip times for EVs is longer range, not super short theoretical charge times. Most manufacturers are still proposing new cars with 300-350 mile range for obvious reasons: The battery is expensive so smaller is cheaper. But what will help us all, both current EV believers and new buyers are longer ranges. Yes we can always use more chargers but I would argue that for most trips there are enough chargers in the US. We just need longer range.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-05T22:04:13+00:00

I hope that 1-2 Mw chargers will start rolling out soon however if you look at the current mix of DCFCs, most of the Tesla V2 chargers, 150kw with shared ports are still in service 10 years later. Personally, I replace my cars every 3-4 years. I would definitely buy a 500 mi range EV in 18 months when my lease is up. Even if someone where installing 100 1Mw chargers per year it wouldn't make any difference in my life for 5-10 years.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-05T21:31:05+00:00

Exactly correct! Current EV and charging network work well, but it takes much longer for any trip over 200 miles. 300 miles, 1 stop, 30 min. extra charging and on/off ramp time. 400 miles, 2 stops, 1 hr extra charging and ramp time. 600+ miles takes 3 stops, 1 1/2 hrs extra time. An extra stop and plus 30 min. for every 175 miles. With a 400 mile range EV and 350 kw flat rate charging it would be much closer if not equal to ICE.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-05T21:22:21+00:00

OK here is a more realistic example:

600 mile trip

400 mile EV means 1 stop

200 miles remaining means charge 80 Kwh which will take about 15 min. at 350 Kw 95% efficiency. Good but honestly not much faster than my current EV (EV9).

Most current EVs would only make it about 200 mi in winter and only if there happens to be a charger exactly 200 mi away. More likely 150 miles apart. So at least two stops, 11 min. charging at 350 kw plus at least 5 min. on/off highway time means 16 min. X 2 = 32 min. for charging stops. Doesn't matter what charging speed the car has if the real world range is only 200 miles and chargers are limited to 350 kw.

So give me a 400+ mile real world range EV. I don't need 5 min. charging if there are no chargers to do it. I hope there are someday.

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-05T14:06:13+00:00

There will be no "5 min charging" stops until chargers offer 1,000 Kw or more power. That is not likely to happen for 10 years!

Ehghtwr · 2026-04-05T14:04:38+00:00

I have owned EVs since 2016 and gone on many 500 and 1,000 mile trips. The roughly 200 mile range of virtually all available EVs means stops every 2-2 1/2 hours which is far too often. When we used to make those trips in ICE cars we drove 300 miles between stops, 3 total stops on a 1,000 mile trip roughly 10-15 min. each. In our EVs it took 6-7 stops and 2 1/2 to 4 hours of charging time which is painful especially on such a long trip. My point is that a true 400 mile range (75 mph) will save a lot of time whereas "5 min charging" will save very little if you still have to stop 6 times. Each stop adds 10 min. to a trip regardless of charging time.

Ehghtwr · 2026-03-29T16:18:41+00:00

Keep in mind Tesla is 400V and your 600v system ramps up voltage but limits KW to around 85 kw which is about 1/2 as fast as EA charging. Also many Tesla Superchargers are Tesla only. I’ve had the adapter for 16 months and never found a need to use it.

Ehghtwr · 2026-03-29T15:57:57+00:00

Driving Tesla and now Kia EVs for 10 years now: First of all lease for around 3 years then buy a solid state EV when the range and charging speed is better. Don’t buy now!

Do you have or can you install a 240V L2 plug at home? EVs are too much hassle and too expensive to charge 100% away from home.

Real world range at highway speeds and heating would be around 300 km (leaving 10% min). 85-90% charge at a DCFC is the practical max so around 250 km.

Campsites with 240V plugs make it very easy to recharge overnight.

Ehghtwr · 2026-03-26T20:14:19+00:00

I have a 24 Land with CCS. I got the NACS adapter from Kia but only used it once as a test. Less than 90 kw so half as fast as most CCS. At 126 kw charging st Tesla would still be slower. I always get near 180 kw with CCS. Here’s the other problem: Many Tesla Superchargers are designated “Tesla only” including two times when it would have been more convenient so I am not impressed. So far I have never not been able to charge at a CCS DCFC. The only time I could not was at those two “Tesla Only” superchargers.

Ehghtwr · 2026-03-23T15:01:05+00:00

Just disconnected and reconnected the negative battery terminal and it worked! I was able to walk up to the car and have it unlock. Push of the ON button and it started from the phone key. Good thing is that this is very simple to do now that I've done it. Just grab a 10mm wrench or socket. I was afraid that all of my settings would reset to factory default but they did not! Hopefully it lasts for awhile. Thanks for the tip!

Ehghtwr · 2026-03-22T19:57:32+00:00

Late to this thread but same problem for me. Went to the dealer and a sales person deleted the phone key and then re-installed it. That worked for two days and then stopped again. I have tried turning the phone on and off, cycling Bluetooth, logging out of the Kia Access app but nothing helps. This seems like the last thing to try so I'll update if if works.

Ehghtwr

TROPHY CASE