Kia EV6 to run a 3,600-mile marathon in just 5 days

KUALA LUMPUR: A close cousin to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 holds a number of design and technology awards under its belt. This electric crossover is now preparing to hit another milestone as the expedition specialist Max Adventure will drive the Kia EV6 from Oslo, Norway to Lisbon, Portugal in just five days. 

This epic adventure 3,600-mile (approx 5794 kilometres) ‘Driven To Extremes Euro EV Marathon’ will cover 15 countries in just 120 hours. In association with Kia UK, the team of three will initiate the drive on September 5, 2022, and reach Lisbon on September 9, 2022 i.e. World EV Day. 

To make this happen, the team will utilise the car’s impressive range offering of 328 miles (527 km) on a single charge along with 800V ultra-rapid charging technology, which will keep pit stops to a minimum.  With the help of a 350kW charger, the EV’s battery charges from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, however, it takes 1 hour 13 minutes for the same task when using a 50kW charger. The team will be using Europe’s public charging network throughout the journey.

Well, the Kia EV6 will not only allow the team to pick optimal stopping points along the way, but it will also provide comfort during this 120-hour drive with its spacious cabin and long wheelbase, according to Kia. 

The car will be driven by the trio in turns as they rest and navigate; the only planned stops will be for driver changes and vehicle charging. A support vehicle will also accompany it to document the drive, carrying a photography and film crew.

Speaking of the challenge, Project Leader Mac Mackenney said: “We want to show how it’s possible to cover a huge distance in a short time using an EV, and that the vehicles as well as the charging infrastructure are already available. The Kia EV6 was the obvious choice for this amazing challenge as we’ve been seriously impressed with the car during trials, and we know how capable and comfortable it is on a long journey.”

Also read: 2022 Kia Carnival: Features that make it a capable MPV