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A quiet software program replace isn’t alleged to really feel like a loss. But that’s precisely how one Kia EV9 proprietor described his expertise after discovering {that a} current replace appeared to scale back the quantity of usable battery capability obtainable at a full cost.
In a put up that rapidly gained consideration throughout the Kia EV9 Homeowners USA group, the proprietor claimed that what the automobile now reviews as “one hundred pc” not corresponds to the identical usable vitality it did earlier than, successfully trimming real-world vary with none warning.
The proprietor documented the change utilizing an OBD scanner and a third-party app, each earlier than and after the replace. Previous to the replace, a full cost confirmed a battery administration system state of cost of roughly 97 %.
Afterward, that very same one hundred pc dashboard studying corresponded to simply 92 to 93 %. The screenshots inform a compelling story, with practically an identical circumstances however a noticeable discount in usable watt-hours reported by the automobile.
To the proprietor, this was not a rounding error. It was a significant chunk of capability that merely vanished.
“KIA has modified what 100% state of cost means. I carried out a battery well being examine previous to the over-the-air replace and afterward. Now 100% state of cost on my automobile went from a state of cost (BSM) of 97% to 92%.”
Naturally, the primary query from different house owners was battery well being. May degradation clarify the distinction? The reply, in line with the information, was no. The automobile’s state of well being was nonetheless reported as one hundred pc each earlier than and after the replace. With mileage round 24,000, the battery itself appeared unchanged. That shifted consideration away from put on and towards software program conduct, which is the place fashionable EV possession turns into difficult.
Kia EV9: Design, Dynamics, and On a regular basis Usability
- The EV9 adopts a boxy, upright design that maximizes inside quantity, enabling three adult-usable rows inside a footprint that continues to be manageable for city driving.
- Electrical energy supply emphasizes smoothness and low-speed management, supporting assured motion regardless of the automobile’s dimension and weight.
- Inside structure balances digital interfaces with sensible storage and seating flexibility, reflecting its function as a family-oriented electrical SUV.
- Journey high quality prioritizes stability and composure, notably on highways, whereas firmer suspension tuning turns into extra obvious over tough or uneven pavement.
Some commenters advised temperature as an element, noting {that a} hotter battery can unlock extra usable buffer and that battery administration techniques dynamically modify limits primarily based on circumstances. On this case, nonetheless, the proprietor identified that the replace was utilized throughout a seller service go to and never as a typical over-the-air push the proprietor initiated. The timing, paired with the before-and-after information, made the reason really feel incomplete reasonably than reassuring.
What unsettles house owners most is just not the thought of buffers present. Most EV drivers perceive that producers reserve a portion of the battery on the high and backside to guard longevity. What raises concern is when these buffers seem to vary with out clear communication. When yesterday’s 97 % turns into at present’s 92 % whereas nonetheless being labeled “100,” it feels much less like safety and extra like subtraction, even when the intent is benign.
This isn’t the primary time an automaker has confronted scrutiny over software-defined battery limits. Tesla house owners have lengthy debated related shifts following updates, and the business as a complete remains to be studying tips on how to message these modifications transparently. In idea, a barely lowered usable window may enhance long-term sturdiness or thermal stability. In apply, house owners expertise it as a lowered vary, particularly once they plan journeys or charging habits round earlier conduct.
The EV9 is a big, family-oriented automobile, and vary expectations matter extra in that context than they could in a small commuter automobile. Dropping even a number of proportion factors on the high finish can translate into a number of miles, which may be the distinction between a snug arrival and a mid-trip charging cease. When that loss arrives silently, belief takes the hit earlier than vary does.
Different commenters famous inconsistency in Kia’s replace rollout, with some house owners receiving updates and others seeing none for months. That unevenness solely provides to confusion. With out clear launch notes or explanations, house owners are left evaluating screenshots and theories, attempting to reverse-engineer selections that instantly have an effect on how they use their automobiles.
To Kia’s credit score, nothing within the information suggests battery harm or accelerated degradation. The automobile remains to be reporting a wholesome pack. However that distinction could matter much less to house owners than the lived expertise of plugging in, charging to “full,” and realizing that full not means what it used to. In a world the place EVs are more and more outlined by software program, expectations hinge on consistency and communication as a lot as {hardware}.
It could change into a one-off calibration change tied to service procedures or temperature modeling. Or it might replicate a broader technique to regulate usable capability margins over time. Both means, it underscores a actuality of recent EV possession. The automobile you purchase is just not frozen in time. With each replace, it might quietly turn into one thing barely completely different.
Picture Sources: Kia Media Middle
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys protecting the newest information within the automotive business and conducting evaluations on the newest automobiles. He has been within the automotive business since 15 years outdated and has been featured in distinguished automotive information websites. You possibly can attain him on X and LinkedIn for ideas and to comply with his automotive protection.
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