The Kia EV6 is the latest car in Kia’s mission to crack down on carbon emissions by using batteries and electricity instead. However, while an EV definitely emits zero emissions, the process of creating an EV definitely does cause a measure of pollution. Due to that, Kia has gone out of its way to show that the Kia EV6 is legit with its carbon emissions, and that will allow Kia to avoid a scandal, such as the Dieselgate incident that has plagued Volkswagen for years. 

The Kia EV6 is a true green machine

Unlike some other EVs, the EV6, first and foremost, comes with options. The EV6 can get about 300 miles on a single charge, but Kia offers several electric motor configurations. The weakest motor gets about 167 hp, while the strongest motor gets 576 hp. Additionally, several more motor options sit between those two extremes. On top of that, the EV6, like other Kia SUVs, will have plenty of smart safety features. 

Those won’t be the only smart things about the EV6, either. As Kia said, the EV6 is the first Korean car to be “Carbon Measured” by the Carbon Trust. What this means is that the Carbon Trust measured the EV6’s emissions throughout its whole production process. Not only were its emissions measured, but Kia also took steps to reduce the EV6’s carbon footprint. For example, Kia said that it used eco-friendly materials on the EV6’s interior. 

This does a few things for Kia. One, it ensures that the EV6 is as green as it can be throughout the whole process. On top of that, by taking the time to measure and certify the accuracy of those emission measurements, Kia also ensures that it will avoid a Dieselgate-like scandal.

The cost of Dieselgate lies

Emissions are a complicated thing, and Dieselgate has made many people skeptical about a car’s emissions. After all, Volkswagen used a so-called defeat device to trick the EPA into believing that its diesel engine models met emission standards. Obviously, such a device wouldn’t be necessary for an EV since EVs don’t have emissions during use by the nature of their design.

Regardless, that scandal has not only cost Volkswagen a lot of money but it’s also damaged VW’s reputation, as well as public trust in emissions testing. That’s why it may be a good idea, even for an EV like the EV6, to have its carbon footprint measured by another organization. By doing this, Kia ensures customers that it has taken measures to make the EV6 as eco-friendly as possible.

What may follow the Kia EV6

There may not be a better company than the Carbon Trust when it comes to measuring and reducing an EV’s carbon footprint. As Kia said, the Carbon Trust works with businesses and governments alike to help them reduce their carbon footprint, with the Paris Agreement as the ultimate goal. For example, another automaker consulted with the Carbon Trust was Bentley, and their collaboration has been fruitful.

Since the EV6 is the start of Kia’s new electrification strategy, it’s quite likely that the future EVs in Kia’s lineup will also be certified by the Carbon Trust. After all, with the help of the Carbon Trust, Kia has already looked at ways to reduce the EV6’s carbon footprint at every stage of its life. It would make sense that those lessons and strategies could then be used for the future models in Kia’s EV lineup. 

Of course, time will tell. Regardless, Kia still plans to release 11 new EVs by 2026. The EV6 is just Kia’s bold first leap forward, and it won’t be its last.