New Kia EV6 and EV9 Models Will Charge Without Apps or Credit Cards

Kia is catching up to Tesla with a feature that should have been standard from the start: plug-and-charge capability. Starting with the 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9, drivers can pull up to a compatible charging station, plug in, and walk away. No fumbling with apps, no swiping credit cards, no tapping your phone against a reader in the cold.

• The 2025 EV6 gets plug-and-charge by the end of September 2025, while the 2026 EV9 receives it in Q4 2025
• Both models come with NACS ports from the factory, giving access to over 21,500 Tesla Superchargers plus Electrify America stations
• Requires an active Kia Connect subscription and enrollment in the Kia Charge Pass Program

How This Kia Charging Feature Actually Works

The car and charger talk to each other automatically using something called ISO 15118. Think of it as a secure handshake that exchanges payment info and starts the charging session without any extra steps from you. Tesla owners have enjoyed this convenience for years through the Supercharger network, and now Kia electric vehicles are bringing the same experience to their lineup.

Anyone who’s stood in a parking lot trying to get a charging app to work while their phone freezes in winter weather knows exactly why this matters. Public charging has always been more complicated than it needs to be. Different networks require different apps or membership cards. Sometimes the app won’t load. Sometimes the card reader is broken. Plug-and-charge eliminates all of that friction.

Where You Can Use the Kia Charging System

The feature works at participating charging networks that support the ISO 15118 standard. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America both support it, which covers a huge portion of the fast-charging infrastructure in North America. Electrify America alone operates around 500 DC fast-charging locations across the United States, with many stations delivering up to 350 kilowatts of power.

For the EV6, the update arrives over the air. Owners will get a notification when it’s ready to download and install. The EV9 requires a trip to the dealer for now, though that might change as Kia works out the software delivery.

What You Need to Get Started

To use the feature, you need three things set up first. You need an active Kia Connect subscription, which gives you access to the connected features in your car. You need to enroll in the Kia Charge Pass Program through the Kia Access app. And you need to add a valid payment method to your account so the system knows how to bill you for charging sessions.

Once those pieces are in place, you activate plug-and-charge through the Kia Access app. The activation process links your vehicle’s certificates to the charging networks. After that initial setup, you’re good to go at any compatible charger. You show up, plug in, and the charging starts. When you’re done, you unplug and leave. The bill shows up on your Kia Charge Pass account automatically.

How This Compares to Other EVs

Tesla has always had the easiest charging experience because they control both the cars and the chargers. Other automakers have been playing catch-up. Ford added plug-and-charge to the Mustang Mach-E, but you have to dig through the FordPass app settings to enable it, and it only works at certain stations. Rivian supports it at Tesla Superchargers and Ionna’s Rechargeries. The feature is spreading, but adoption has been slow and inconsistent across the industry.

Kia’s implementation appears to be more straightforward than some of the early attempts from other manufacturers. The setup happens through one app, and once it’s configured, it works at any compatible charger without additional per-network setup.

What to Know Before You Buy a New Kia EV

Only the 2025 model year EV6 and the 2026 model year EV9 come with NACS ports and plug-and-charge capability. Earlier model years with CCS1 ports are not getting this feature. That’s disappointing for owners of 2024 and earlier models, but new features typically show up on new model years. Software updates can only do so much when the hardware is different.

The 2025 EV6 offers up to 319 miles of EPA-estimated range in the Long Range RWD configuration, starting at $46,200. The base Light RWD model starts at $42,900 and delivers 237 miles of range. For the bigger 2026 EV9, the Light RWD starts at $54,900 with 230 miles of range, while the Long Range model starts at $57,900 and gets 305 miles.

Why This Feature Changes the Game

Plug-and-charge might not sound exciting, but it makes a real difference in daily use. Charging your EV becomes as simple as charging your phone. You plug it in and forget about it. No apps to launch, no cards to tap, no authentication failures to troubleshoot.

For anyone shopping for an EV right now, plug-and-charge should be on your list of features to look for. It’s one of those things you don’t realize you need until you’ve experienced how much simpler it makes the whole charging process. Kia is bringing that experience to the EV6 and EV9, making both vehicles more user-friendly for everyday driving.