Kia Partners With Amazon To Sell And Install EV Home Charging Stations

Most electric vehicle charging is done at home, but it can be a bit of a daunting process for new owners who don’t want to recharge at a snail-like pace.

Not only do they need to need to select the right rapid charger, but they also have to find a local electrician to install it. Thankfully, Kia is simplifying the process by partnering with Amazon.

As part of the collaboration, owners of plug-in hybrid and electric Kia models can visit Amazon.com/ChargeMyKia and select from one of three recommended 240V chargers. Kia suggests owners go with the $764 Bosch charger, but the site also includes more affordable options such as a $699 ChargePoint charger that works with Amazon Alexa or a rather dull looking JuiceBox charger for $549.

While it’s convenient that the site lists recommended chargers, the real beauty of the partnership is that it connects customers with local licensed electricians who are part of the Amazon Home Services program. This allow users to schedule an appointment and get upfront pricing for the installation process.

To get a pricing quote, users simple enter a few pieces of information such as where their electrical panel is located, how old the panel is and how far the panel is from their preferred charger location.

The cost

Pricing varies significantly based on these answers and, in my case, I’d be looking at an estimated installation cost of approximately $3,941. Of course, customers with newer electrical panels can expect to pay much less.

The partnership aims to streamline the ownership process and Kia Motor America’s executive director of car planning and telematics, Orth Hedrick, said “Being able to order a Level 2 charger and installation through Amazon further demystifies and simplifies the experience for new Kia EV and PHEV owners. It’s just another example of how we’re constantly striving to provide the very best vehicles and customer experience.”