EV News Daily |Kia EV9 Global Reveal | Battery Sourcing Requirements May Disqualify Many Vehicles for EV Tax Credits

In today’s edition of EV News Daily, we have covered headlines from Kia EV9 global reveal event, U.S. Treasury Department’s long-awaited guidance on battery sourcing requirements for electric vehicle tax credits.

Kia Shares Full Details of the All-Electric Kia EV9 SUV at the Global Reveal Event

• Kia EV9 is based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and has a 3,100-mm wheelbase, supported by a choice of 21-inch, 20-inch, or 19-inch wheels. With an overall length of 5,010 mm, it stands 1,980 mm wide and 1,755 mm tall.
• The electric SUV will be available with two powertrain configurations, the all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup and the single motor Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Standard model, and the RWD Long Range.
• A 76.1-kWh battery is fitted in the RWD Standard model, while a 99.8-kWh battery is fitted in both the RWD Long Range and All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants.
• The RWD Long Range model with 19-inch wheels offers an estimated target range of over 336 miles (541 km), according to WLTP. Using an ultra-fast 800 Volt charging system, the vehicle’s battery pack can be replenished with sufficient charge to power the vehicle for 148 miles (239 km) in approximately 15 minutes.
• The RWD Long Range model utilizes a 150 kW / 350 Nm electric motor, endowing the SUV with the ability to accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. Also powered by a single electric motor, albeit a more powerful 160 kW / 350 Nm variant, the Standard RWD EV9 can accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds.
• The AWD variant is equipped with two electric motors that together unleash a total power output of 283 kW and a combined torque of 600 Nm. This potent combination enables the SUV to surge from 0-to-100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds.
• And even greater levels of performance are available with an optional Boost feature, available for later purchase at the Kia Connect Store. The combined torque is increased to an exceptional 700 Nm, enabling the EV9 to accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.
• The EV9 comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality through its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), enabling the discharging of energy from the vehicle battery. Families can use up to 3.68 kW of power for laptops or camping equipment.
• It also has an impressive aerodynamic coefficient of 0.28 considering its blocky design. 
• The Kia EV9 offers seven-seater and six-seater configurations and the second row offers four seating options, including 3-seater bench seats, basic-type two-seater, and swivel-type two-seater independent seats. With the swivel seat option, the second-row seats swivel 180 degrees to enable conversations with those seated in the third row.
• Kia is planning to offer its Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system in the EV9 GT-line model in the future which will allow Level 3 autonomous driving in certain situations. It will consist of Fifteen sensors, including two lidars, enabling it to scan for and detect objects in a full 360-degree field of view to prevent potential collisions.
• The Kia Connect Stores will enable customers to purchase digital features and services on demand, giving them the flexibility to choose the features they want and continuously upgrade the capability of the EV9 with Over the Air (OTA) updates at any time.
• The EV9’s chassis frame structure features the world’s first patent-pending B-pillar connection structure technology featuring an extended overlap between crash barrier and the side sill. These technological advances provide class-leading levels of protection and safeguarding for both occupants and batteries, with in-cabin protection enhanced by ten airbags.
•  Kia EV9 will be showcased at this year’s New York International Auto Show in early April and will go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of this year.

Original Source: Kia

Battery Sourcing Requirements for EV Tax Credits May Result in Fewer Vehicles Getting Full or Partial Credits

• The U.S. Treasury Department’s long-awaited guidance on battery sourcing requirements for electric vehicle tax credits due out by Friday will result in fewer vehicles getting full or partial credits, a U.S. official told Reuters.
• In December, Treasury decided not to issue the proposed guidance on battery sourcing rules until March, effectively giving some EVs not meeting new requirements a few months of eligibility in 2023 before the rules take effect.
• The EV credit requires 50% of the value of battery components to be produced or assembled in North America to qualify for $3,750 of the credit and 40% of the value of critical minerals sourced from the United States or a country with which it has a free trade agreement. Those rise by 10 percentage points annually.
• Auto industry officials say the guidance must answer complex questions about how to classify minerals and components. In response, Treasury said in December it would define key terms like processing, extraction, recycling, and what constitutes a free trade deal.

Source: Reuters

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