When Kia Engineers Got the Task: "Build an EV for €35,000 with 600 km Range" May 2023. Kia headquarters in Seoul. The design team receives a brief from management: "We need an EV that's cheaper than Tesla, more practical than Volvo EX30, and goes further than VW ID.3." Sounds like an impossible task? Kia had one advantage: the E-GMP platform, on which the EV6 and EV9 already ran – models that showed Koreans know how to make fast-charging EVs. The problem? E-GMP was designed for large vehicles – SUVs and crossovers in segments D and E. The EV3 was supposed to be smaller – a compact crossover 4.3 meters long. Can you fit an 80+ kWh battery in a car the size of a VW Golf? We got the answer a year later. The Launch That Surprised the Industry May 23, 2024. Kia shows the EV3 to the world. The specs cause a stir: 81.4 kWh battery – more than most competitors WLTP range: 605 km – that's more than Tesla Model 3 RWD (513 km) DC charging: 128 kW – not the fastest, BUT... Flat charging curve: 10-80% in 31 minutes – that's faster than most competitors And most importantly: starting price PLN 166,900 (version with smaller 58.3 kWh battery). Media wrote: "Kia just did what VW, Ford, and Renault couldn't – a practical EV at the price of a combustion car." The Secret of the Flat Charging Curve Most EVs charge according to a curve: fast at the start, slow at the end. Tesla Model 3 reaches 170 kW at 20% battery, but drops to 50-60 kW at 60%. Hyundai Ioniq 6 peaks at 240 kW, but only for a few minutes. Kia EV3 does it differently. Instead of chasing the highest peak power, Kia engineers focused on stable charging throughout the entire session. The result? EV3 81.4 kWh – charging curve: 10-30%: ~120-128 kW (peak) 30-50%: ~110-120 kW (drop of only 10 kW!) 50-70%: ~90-100 kW (still decent pace) 70-80%: ~60-70 kW What does this mean in practice? Most drivers charge in the 20-60% battery range. In this range, EV3 is faster than cars with higher peak power because it maintains high power longer. Two Batteries, Two Different Characters Kia offers the EV3 in two battery versions: 1. EV3 58.3 kWh – "city" version WLTP range: 436 km (version with 17" wheels) DC charging: 101-102 kW AC charging: 10.5 kW Time 10-80%: 29 minutes Price: from PLN 166,900 For whom? People driving mainly in the city and surroundings Those who have access to home charging Budget up to ~PLN 180,000 2. EV3 81.4 kWh – "all-purpose" version WLTP range: 605 km (version with 17" wheels) DC charging: 128 kW AC charging: 10.5 kW (22 kW option in 2025!) Time 10-80%: 31 minutes Price: from PLN 184,900 For whom? People driving long distances Those who want to charge less frequently Worth paying PLN 18,000 extra for 40% more range Home Charging: Kia Plans a Revolution Currently, EV3 has an onboard charger of 10.5 kW (3-phase). This is standard in this class, but Kia announced that in 2025 it will introduce a 22 kW option. Why is this important? With a 22 kW charger, you'll charge the EV3 81.4 kWh in just under 4 hours (0-100%). This changes the game for people who: Don't have the option to charge overnight Want to quickly recharge between trips Have solar panels and excess power during the day Before You Buy a Charger - Check Your Socket! Before buying a charger, you must decide which socket you'll use for charging. This is the most important decision because it determines charging power and compatibility. Option 1: 3.7 kW socket charger Standard 230V home socket – most popular, slowest ✅ You have it in every home✅ Doesn't require additional installation✅ Safe with proper grounded installation❌ Very slow: EV3 81.4 kWh ~22 hours (0-100%) What you need: Standard 230V 16A socket Properly functioning electrical installation with grounding ⚠️ WARNING: 20% of EV users connect chargers to sockets without working grounding or reversed phase. Most reputable chargers won't work without grounding. For whom: Only as backup. If you charge <30 km daily and have all night. Option 2: 11 kW industrial socket ⭐ RECOMMENDED CEE 16A socket (3-phase, red) – standard for EVs ✅ Fast charging: EV3 81.4 kWh ~7-8 hours (0-100%)✅ Full utilization of vehicle capability (11 kW AC)✅ Ability to use Q11/P11 chargers⚠️ Requires 3-phase 16A installation What you need: CEE 16A socket (3-phase, "industrial", red) 3-phase 16A installation Installation cost: PLN 500-1,500 (depends on distance from distribution box) For whom: Most users. If you drive >50 km daily. If you don't want to decide: Choose Q11 with adapters – you'll be able to charge from both 230V socket (slow) and CEE (fast). Which Ampere Point Charger to Choose? Currently (2024/2025) EV3 has a 10.5-11 kW onboard charger, so the only sensible choices are: Q11 or P11 – 11 kW portable chargers ⭐ BEST CHOICE ✅ Full utilization of EV3 onboard charger power (11 kW)✅ Charge EV3 81.4 kWh in ~7-8 hours✅ Both are portable – you can take them with you✅ You can charge wherever there's a CEE 16A socket (3-phase)⚠️ Requires 3-phase 16A installation (red CEE socket) Model Q11 (check current price) Model P11 (check current price) Difference Q11 vs P11: Both are portable and offer 11 kW. Main difference: Q11 with adapters can also charge from 230V socket (3.7 kW), P11 requires CEE socket. Check product descriptions for details. Q11 has an app. If you don't want to decide: Choose Q11 with adapters – maximum flexibility What about Q22 charger (22 kW)? ⚠️ Currently doesn't make sense – EV3 in 2024 version has an 11 kW onboard charger, so you won't use the additional 11 kW from Q22 charger. ✅ Q22 will make sense only in 2025 – when Kia introduces the 22 kW onboard charger option. If you plan to buy EV3 with this option, then Q22 makes sense. Real-World Test: 1000 Km in One Day Chip.pl editorial team tested the EV3 81.4 kWh in real conditions – long highway trip in winter. Data: Temperature: 2-5°C Speed: 120-130 km/h (highway) Interior heating: on Results: Energy consumption: 19-21 kWh/100 km (WLTP: 14.9 kWh) Real range: 380-420 km (WLTP: 605 km) Ionity charging: 10-80% in 33 minutes (declared 31 min) Conclusion? EV3 in winter loses ~30-35% range, but this is normal for EVs. In summer on mixed routes, real range is 500-550 km. i-Pedal 3.0 Function: Drive with One Pedal EV3 has a new version of regenerative braking system – i-Pedal 3.0. What does this mean? You activate i-Pedal mode and can drive using only the accelerator pedal: Release foot → car brakes regeneratively Car stops completely (even on incline) Recover up to 30% energy in city driving How much does this give in practice? In the city with i-Pedal 3.0 enabled and 17" wheels, you can achieve range up to 773 km (Kia's declaration). This sounds unrealistic, but testers confirm: in the city, with calm driving, you can drive 650-700 km. V2L: Power Fridge, Coffee Maker, and Laptop from Your Car EV3 has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function – you can power external devices with power from car battery. What can you connect? Laptop: 50-100W Travel fridge: 40-60W Coffee maker: 800-1200W Hair dryer: 1500-2000W V2L power: 3.6 kW – enough to power most household appliances. Practical example: Mr. Tomasz from Warsaw took EV3 camping. For 3 days he powered from the car: travel fridge, coffee maker, LED lights, and charged laptop. Used 15 kWh of energy (18% of 81.4 kWh battery). "It's like having a portable power plant," he says. Frunk: 25 Liters for Cables and Fluid EV3 has a front trunk (frunk) with 25 liters capacity. It's an ideal place for: Charging cables Washer fluid First aid kit and triangle Small tools Why is this important? The main trunk (460 l) isn't cluttered with cables. After folding the rear seats, you have 1,251 liters of clean space. Comparison: EV3 Vs Competition Model Battery DC Charging WLTP Range Time 10-80% Price (2025) Kia EV3 81.4 kWh 128 kW 605 km 31 min PLN 184,900 VW ID.3 Pro S 77 kWh 175 kW 560 km 35 min PLN 170,000 Volvo EX30 69 kWh 153 kW 476 km 26 min PLN 195,000 Tesla Model 3 RWD 60 kWh 170 kW 513 km 25 min PLN 185,000 Winner: Kia EV3 (longest range, lowest price) Fastest charging: Volvo EX30 (but smallest range) Best service network: VW ID.3 What Owners Say "I bought EV3 81.4 kWh in Earth version. I drive mainly city + routes up to 200 km. I charge once a week. 11 kW wallbox in garage is enough for me." – Michał, Kraków "In winter, range drops to ~400 km real, but that's still more than most competitors. In summer I easily do 550 km." – Anna, Gdańsk "Frunk is a brilliant solution. Cables and fluids don't clutter the trunk." – Paweł, Wrocław Practical Tips ✅ How to maximize EV3? Use i-Pedal 3.0 in the city – recover up to 30% energy Charge to 80% daily – extends battery life V2L for camping – save on generator Charge to 100% before long trip – EV3 has large battery, use it ❌ What to avoid? Charging to 100% daily Discharging below 10% 19" wheels – you lose ~40 km range vs 17" Driving with recuperation disabled – you waste energy Summary Kia EV3 proves that you don't need the fastest DC charging to be a practical EV. ✅ Record range in class: 605 km (81.4 kWh version) ✅ Flat charging curve – stable pace throughout session ✅ Low price: from PLN 166,900 (cheaper than Tesla, VW, Volvo) ✅ V2L function – power external devices ✅ i-Pedal 3.0 – one-pedal driving with maximum energy recovery ✅ 25 l frunk – additional space Only downside: 22 kW charger option will appear only in 2025. If you buy now, you have 10.5-11 kW. Sources Press.kia.com - New Kia EV3 – uncompromising and functional electric crossover Kia.com - New Kia EV3 - official product page Chip.pl - First drive KIA EV3 - compact EV set to conquer Polish market nowyosobowy.pl - Kia EV3 presented. Small crossover sets standards in segment autokatalog.pl - New Kia EV3 (2024) in full glory e-mobilni.pl - Kia EV3 2025. Versions, engines, range, prices Wyborkierowcow.pl - Kia EV3 (81.4 kWh) Earth (2024) – technical data Wyborkierowcow.pl - Kia EV3 (58.3 kWh) Earth (2024) – technical data autoGALERIA.pl - KIA EV3 2024 is a small revolution. Combines style, practicality and range Our Chargers for Kia EV3 👉 Q11 (portable 11 kW) – best choice for EV3 👉 P11 (portable 11 kW) – equally good choice :) 🔗 See full Ampere Point charger range