12 Months with a Kia EV6 GT — Placing the Hoons in Their Place

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We met up with Shayne and Amy Aberhart at our Bundaberg EV show as a part of Agrotrend. Amy was there to take care of the First Assist wants of the attendees, and Shayne got here alongside later to speak about his Kia EV6 GT. In a fortuitous flip of occasions, Amy occurred throughout our Tesla whereas she was on the lookout for a spot to park. We talked her into leaving her automotive to be a part of our show. We had been in dire want of extra EVs, as we solely had our Tesla Mannequin 3 SR and John Baldwin’s MG4 to point out the general public.

We had beforehand had a quick have a look at the Kia EV6 GT in Gympie, the place it was touted because the world’s greatest efficiency automotive. However the salesman didn’t actually know the automotive.

Now was an opportunity to speak to somebody who had lived with and loved the Kia EV6 for a 12 months. Shayne shared his love of the Kia in dialog with Majella and I smelled an attention-grabbing article cooking in my head, so right here we go in his personal phrases:

By Shayne Aberhart

I suppose I’ll begin off with some priming info. I journey motorbikes primarily — a GSX-1300R and a ZX-14R. Some record-breaking machines, so that you perceive that I like to go quick.

I selected the KIA EV6 GT as a result of I wished to go quick and have enjoyable, whereas sustaining a sufficiently subtle look to mix in, however slick sufficient to be proud to personal by appears alone. My companion wished a automotive that she might match extra in and have extra floor clearance than the previous 2007 Chrysler 300C SRT we used to drive every day. We’ve since offered the Chrysler and rely solely on the EV6 since we now have complete religion in it after round 6 months. I primarily work at home with a second job, so there’s no arguing over who takes it for the day, however after we exit collectively, I at all times insist on driving. It’s simply an excessive amount of enjoyable.

We checked out a number of automobiles over per week, and notably a WRX STI. After that check drive the salesperson requested the way it was. “Extremely underwhelming” I mentioned with confidence and my response shocked the poor man. You’d count on one thing with an STI badge to stand up and out the gate like a mad bull on a mission, however as a substitute it simply kinda moseyed alongside like a wounded cow. I additionally drove a Hyundai Kona…. However we received’t speak about that.

There weren’t many different automobiles that might even examine. Teslas round city had been all second hand and for my part have changed the Holden commodore in recognition round cities. I wished one thing I hadn’t seen usually. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its retro-futuristic look and Inoiq 6 had been a detailed second and third selection. Some notable choices had been the Jaguar E-Tempo and even a Vary Rover hybrid, which we didn’t check drive, sadly.

Our job consists of typically being known as at early hours of the morning, and the Kia EV6 GT is ideal for sneaking away at evening with out disturbing the neighbours and even the native pets within the space.

Amy and I work as funeral administrators. Amy does all of the day work, assembly with households, trade companions, and travelling between a number of websites many MANY occasions a day. I help with the evening duties together with Amy and we’ve been doing this collectively for nicely over 10 years. Throughout the day, the automotive is often sitting in a parking lot round very prosperous buildings, so it suits in very nicely amongst some excessive priced Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche automobiles to call a number of. Throughout work providers, it’s even utilized by colleagues to sneak away with out disturbing proceedings. However we’re fairly certain they only need an excuse to drive it.

We’ve had the automotive (affectionately known as Eevee) for nearly precisely 1 12 months on the time of scripting this and haven’t regretted it for a second.

Charging has by no means been a problem. By no means obtained caught out in the midst of nowhere, and each different EV proprietor will both transfer on to a different charger nearer to their vacation spot if we REALLY wanted to cost or no person was on the stations and it was a breeze.

Lack of charging stations isn’t a problem, as I’m certain you’re conscious. It’s lack of high-powered charging stations that’s a problem. Although, I’ve no issues with strolling round and grabbing a espresso or having a fast feed whereas I discover the native space.

Lengthy distances to locations I’ve by no means been within the automotive could be a little nerve racking, however when you’ve achieved it as soon as and plan the route, these worries disappear the subsequent time.

Folks touch upon the automotive on a regular basis, need to know what it’s, vary, comforts, and so on.

And getting appears from the footpath are at all times ego boosting, simply want I had an engine to rev although. However the sound system by Meridian is high tier, very pleasing to the ears, and I do know they will at all times hear the thumping coming from the little subwoofer within the boot.

I’ve taken on many automotive fanatics (each Japanese and muscle) — newer drivers which are inexperienced and imagine their automobiles are sooner than sound, often sporting a P-Plate on their automotive and fairly a number of motorbikes for a drag — since I’ve had it. The Kia handles like a rollercoaster and takes off like a minimize snake. All the time met with smiles afterwards and feedback like “Holy S#*t that factor’s quick.”

Being in a small city hasn’t brought on many points. I can get from one aspect to the opposite with stop-go site visitors and the automotive solely makes use of perhaps 5% battery. However that’s all relative and dependant on temperature, air-con utilization, and whether or not I resolve to ever take it out of sport-mode.

Really, I see lots of Kia EV6s getting round city, however simply the bottom fashions and so they have authorities plates … often parked on the hospital or the division of transport.

I’m glad the police are beginning to look into EVs for his or her automobiles. They’ll sustain with nearly every thing on the highway with the low centre of gravity, however the yellow color will most likely make me giggle if I see one in particular person. It’s simply not a flattering visible for the EV6.

After I first obtained the automotive, I took my retired police buddy for a journey in it and it blew his socks off, he couldn’t imagine it was that fast off the showroom flooring.

I additionally took my very rich boss for a journey and now he needs one. He even mentioned, “You’d pay for a high greenback Porsche to get this clean and quick of a journey.” After these experiences, I at all times inform individuals to place their heads on the headrest earlier than displaying them what it could actually do.

All the time my go-to for a enjoyable hoon session and placing XR6 turbos of their place. But when I need to showcase, be a nuisance, beat anybody on the highway and get away… it’ll be the bikes.

Thanks, Amy and Shayne — appears just like the Queensland police have been listening. See the information report in this video. It could be value the price of a ticket to be pulled over by considered one of these. Within the regional metropolis of Bundaberg, the long run is brilliant and electrical.