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Kia’s first electric SUV model will arrive in dealerships this year. It is competing against popular electric SUV models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the Tesla Model Y. Kia is making the 2022 Kia EV6 an even sweeter deal by allowing owners to charge the electric vehicle for free for a limited amount of miles.

Kia is partnering with Electrify America to provide free EV charging

A gray 2022 Kia EV6 is on display.
A gray 2022 Kia EV6 is on display | Clive Brunskill via Getty Images for Kia

The electric future is full of surprising twists. South Korean automaker Kia’s latest and greatest EV6 marketing tactic is to offer up free charging for consumers for a limited amount of wattage and driving distance. According to The Drive, Kia is partnering with Electrify America to offer new EV6 buyers 1,000 kilowatt-hours of charging. How many miles of range is 1,000 kilowatt-hours, you ask? It equates to at least 3,400 miles of driving range.

Car and Driver claims that the average American drives about 13,500 miles a year. By that estimate, the average new Kia EV6 buyer can get over four months of free EV charging using the Electrify America network.

What’s even more interesting about the deal is that Electrify America is owned by none other than Volkswagen Group of America. The automaker that was responsible for the Dieselgate scandal is now partnering with Kia to help make an electric vehicle more appealing. Ah, the sweet irony of the electric future.

This may not seem like much of a power play to some consumers, but imagine if an automaker were to offer to fill your new vehicle’s gas tank for four months after you bought it. Nope, not with today’s gas prices. Kia’s partnership with Electrify America isn’t just a good move for the EV6. It’s a good move for electric vehicles in general.

Is the 2022 Kia EV6 a good deal?

The 2022 Kia EV6 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive electric SUVs on the market. It starts at $40,900. It’s eligible for a federal electric vehicle tax credit of $7,500.

After the EV6’s EV tax credit, its price becomes $33,400. The Ford Mustang Mach-E’s starting price is $36,395 after the electric vehicle tax incentive. The Tesla Model Y is currently only available in Long Range and Performance trims. The Model Y Long Range starts at $54,190 after incentives.

The 2022 Kia EV6 will compete with the best in its segment

A white 2022 Kia EV6 is parked.
The 2022 Kia EV6 | Kia

The 2022 Kia EV6 is one of the most exciting new electric SUVs because of its affordability, appearance, and range. The base model will get 232 miles of range. Its most capable battery can produce 310 miles of range. Will consumers flock to the EV6 because of its affordable price, or will the Ford Mustang Mach-E continue to dominate the electric SUV vehicle segment?

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