CHICAGO AUTO SHOW, KIA EV6 ROAD TRIP, CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, LAND ROVER DEFENDER | EPISODE 39

EV Channels Review

The Out of Spec Podcast crew discusses their recent experiences, including a road trip in the Kia EV6 Wind AWD from Chicago to Dallas. Jordan highlights the EV6 as a comfortable and interesting car for road trips, though the experience was impacted by cold weather and charging infrastructure challenges. While Electrify America chargers were generally available, charging speeds were significantly affected by the low temperatures, and some stations experienced issues. The lack of integrated battery preconditioning in the EV6's navigation system was a notable drawback, forcing reliance on phone apps for route planning and making efficient charging difficult. Despite these hurdles, the trip provided a raw, first-impression glimpse into the nuances of EV road tripping, emphasizing the early-stage development of the charging network and the need for better charger locations and reliability, particularly outside of major hubs.