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For one Kia EV6 proprietor, winter possession took a pointy flip from comfort to chaos after a sudden low-voltage failure left her stranded repeatedly, even after changing the 12-volt battery. The proprietor, a journey nurse working in a single day shifts, says the expertise has made her query whether or not she really understood what EV possession would seem like in chilly climate.
The issues started after an in a single day shift when she charged her EV6 to 100% in a hospital parking storage. The automobile initially powered on and drove up one stage, however warning indicators appeared nearly instantly. A low voltage warning and turtle icon popped up, adopted by the automobile shutting itself down. With no method to proceed driving, she needed to depart the automobile behind and take an Uber again to her resort.
“Having a really unhealthy weekend with Evie. I’m a journey nurse and labored in a single day on Friday. Charged her within the parking storage to 100%. Within the morning, she began up, and we made it to the second stage of the storage. Had the low voltage and turtle icon, and it was powering down. Needed to Uber from work to my resort. Went again to work yesterday, was capable of flip her on once I arrived, and turned her off after one minute. The hospital safety solely had a small charger, and it drained that in about 5 minutes and wouldn’t maintain the cost. My buddy gave me a soar after work along with her cables, and we let it sit for half an hour. I learn the battery reader ought to be at 12-13. It was. I used to be capable of drive out of the storage and down one street, solely to cease working within the intersection. I needed to get towed. Fortunate for me, the auto half retailer was open. I purchased a brand new 12-volt battery for $250. I used to be capable of drive three minutes to the resort. By this level, all of the offended messages had been again. Utilizing winter conditioning and utility mode didn’t assist. I let it run for half an hour earlier than turning it off and coming to get some sleep. After I wakened now, about 4 hours have handed, and the automobile is turned on. I figured I’d let her run just a little. After seven minutes, she shut down once more. When shopping for this automobile, I had no thought it might behave this manner within the winter. I dwell within the Pittsburgh, PA space.
Does anyone have enter? I had the ICCU recall a few yr in the past.”
When she returned to work the subsequent day, the automobile briefly powered on once more, however shut down after a few minute. Hospital safety tried to assist utilizing a small moveable charger, however it drained inside minutes and didn’t stabilize the automobile. A buddy later supplied a soar begin, and after letting the automobile sit for about half-hour, the 12-volt battery appeared to learn inside regular vary at 12 to 13 volts.
Kia EV6: Cabin Format & Management Panel
- The EV6’s low roofline and vast stance give it a sportier posture than many electrical crossovers, enhancing freeway stability whereas barely compromising rear headroom and rear window visibility.
- Acceleration is speedy and simple to modulate in every day driving, with regenerative braking settings permitting drivers to tailor one-pedal habits to their desire.
- Cabin structure combines fashionable screens with a sensible center-console design, although the touch-sensitive management panel for local weather and media can require additional consideration to function.
- Charging efficiency is a core usability benefit on lengthy journeys, although peak charging speeds rely closely on battery temperature and charger availability.
That restoration didn’t final. She managed to drive out of the storage and down one street earlier than the automobile shut down once more in the course of an intersection. A tow adopted, together with a $250 out of pocket buy of a brand new 12-volt battery from a close-by auto components retailer. After putting in it, she was capable of drive roughly three minutes again to her resort.
Even with the brand new battery put in, the warning messages returned. Winter conditioning and utility mode made no distinction. She let the automobile run for half an hour earlier than shutting it off to relaxation. When she returned 4 hours later, the automobile turned on once more, solely to close down after seven minutes of idling.
The proprietor says she had no thought the EV6 may behave this manner in winter situations. She lives within the Pittsburgh space, the place chilly climate is regular, not excessive. She additionally famous that her automobile had already obtained the ICCU recall replace a few yr earlier, which made the failure much more complicated and irritating.
Responses from different EV6 house owners had been swift and constant. Many pointed to a failing Built-in Charging Management Unit, generally often known as the ICCU. In keeping with skilled house owners, as soon as the ICCU is broken, it may well now not correctly cost or preserve the 12-volt battery whereas the automobile is working. The result’s a cascading failure the place the 12-volt system drains quickly, triggering shutdowns even when the high-voltage battery is totally charged.
A number of commenters emphasised that software program updates alone can’t restore broken ICCU {hardware}. If the unit has already failed or partially failed, the recall replace could forestall future points in wholesome parts, however it won’t restore performance to {hardware} that’s already compromised. That explains why changing the 12-volt battery alone didn’t clear up the issue.
House owners who lately skilled comparable failures reported that ICCU replacements are actually being accomplished comparatively shortly, typically inside days or per week, relying on components availability. Nevertheless, others warned that some dealerships could also be hesitant to formally diagnose the problem resulting from authorized implications involving loaner autos and lemon legislation timelines.
The recommendation from fellow house owners was almost unanimous. Cease making an attempt to drive the automobile and have it towed on to a Kia dealership, ideally on a flatbed or with dollies. Doc every part, together with dates, warning messages, and repair interactions, and demand on a full ICCU inspection moderately than repeated battery replacements.
For this journey nurse, the expertise has been greater than an inconvenience. Being stranded after in a single day shifts, counting on rideshares, and spending lots of of {dollars} out of pocket has turned what was as soon as a reliable every day driver right into a supply of hysteria. Her story highlights a harsh actuality of contemporary EV possession: when low-voltage methods fail, even a totally charged battery can’t preserve the automobile alive.
As winter continues, her expertise serves as a cautionary story for EV house owners in chilly climates. The know-how could also be superior, however when supporting methods fail, the end result could be sudden, complicated, and deeply disruptive, particularly for drivers who rely upon their autos for demanding work schedules.
Picture Sources: Kia Media Heart
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys overlaying the most recent information within the automotive trade and conducting opinions on the most recent automobiles. He has been within the automotive trade since 15 years previous and has been featured in distinguished automotive information websites. You may attain him on X and LinkedIn for ideas and to comply with his automotive protection.
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