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Is Battery Pre-Conditioning Ever Coming to the Canadian MY22 EV6? YES! Available NOW!

10K views 68 replies 20 participants last post by  kubo 
#1 · (Edited)
EDIT: To reflect that the battery pre-conditioning update has been available in Canada since at least april 18th.

You may want skip ahead to post 38 or even as far as post 51.

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There are plenty of messages in other sections of the forums from the EU, Netherlands, Germany, and USA about getting, or not getting, battery pre-conditioning. However, little has been discussed in this Canadian forum about the situation in Canada.

I think that Kia Canada owes me the software update which allows rapid charging of my vehicle (according to Kia's own documents) from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. Kia never specified Winter or Summer. This was a major reason for me to choose purchasing this vehicle. And it is not hardware replacement, just a software update done by the dealer.

It turns out that Canadian Ioniq5 owners will be getting the update in the first quarter of 2023 - video link below.

Since the EV6 and Ioniq5 are sister vehicles built on the same E-GMP platform, and since MY22 EV6s in other countries are getting the update it seems reasonble to me that Canadian MY22 EV6s should also get the update, just like the post July MY23 EV6s have and which are being delivered to owners now..

Its Winter here! We should already have had battery-preconditioning.

Canadian EV6 owners need to take similar actions to what Ioniq5 owners did in order to get the pre-conditioning update. Read the Ioniq5 forum:

Here is the video talking about canadian Ioniq5 owners getting the battery pre-conditioning update:

 
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#2 ·
Hi. Thanks for creating a Canadian thread. I completely agree that having preconditioning is essential in Canadian winters. I made two trips between Ottawa and Toronto recently and the best speed I got at 150 kw chargers was 44kw. This is unacceptable.
I emailed Kia Canada a couple of days ago inquiring when we will get this update in Canada. I think we need more Canadian owners to reach out to Kia Canada to force them. I will share the response from them once I get it.
 
#3 ·
Hi. Thanks for creating a Canadian thread. I completely agree that having preconditioning is essential in Canadian winters. I made two trips between Ottawa and Toronto recently and the best speed I got at 150 kw chargers was 44kw. This is unacceptable.
I emailed Kia Canada a couple of days ago inquiring when we will get this update in Canada. I think we need more Canadian owners to reach out to Kia Canada to force them. I will share the response from them once I get it.
I got back this response:

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#4 ·
Font Rectangle Parallel Number Screenshot


I got this back. I have no idea why the warranty blather was included. Note they say they don't know if/when it will be available for the NA market yet it is for Ioniq5. I also asked why the app is brain dead compared to the US version where it can be used on watch, with Google/Alexa intergrations.
 
#5 ·
I sent this back to Arthur et al.
Thank you for your quasi response. I assume you are responding on behalf of Mr. Marner.

Firstly, I have no idea why you sent information on the warranty details. I did not ask for and I can read my warranty information.

Secondly, you state that "At the present time the batter pre conditioning software update is not yet available in Canada" yet it is being provided on cars that have arrived recently, and it will be provided for Ioniq 5 owners. So I assume it is just not available for people who put down their money early for their Kia EV6. Kia/Hyundai have made it available in Europe. You do realize we are in Canada right? This is a badly needed capability in our climate so I expect you to lobby your corporate overlords to respect our needs.

Thirdly, you say "As per the Kia Connect Canadian app it is designed to work on cellphones and computer web browsers. It was not designed to work on Apple watch, Alexa and Google home." Obviously, I know this since I pointed it out to you. What I am asking is that you make an app that is more capable and uses 8 year old Alexa technology, or the 7 year old Apple watch technology or the 6 year old Google home technology. Since they use it in the US and the Canadian app is developed buy the US this should be that difficult. And, if you can't do it why don't you make it more open like Volkswagen Audi and BMW?

Instead of being defensive and telling me what I already know, why not be an advocate for your Canadian customers so that they will buy more of your products and recommend them to others?

Arthur, I though you might find this from Kia Europe article helpful in doing the right thing for your Canadian customers.
Kia offers EV6 software update for faster cold-weather charging

Regards,
 
#6 ·
Latest salvo
RE: MY2022 EV6 GT Line VIN #

This email is to advise you that I will be filing a complaint against KIA Canada with both the Federal and the Provincial Consumer Affairs and Protection Services respectively, the Competiton Bureau for deceptive marketing practises, unless you can assure me that battery pre-conditioning will be made available for my car.

To wit Kia Canada misrepresented a key feature of the car. That feature is now available via a software update; which Kia has issued to European vehicles. However Kia Canada advise that there are no plans to offer it in the Canada. The feature is called battery preconditioning. This feature heats or cools the battery to the a more optimized temperature that is necessary to get the charging speeds advertised when charging the car.

Kia has a feature in the car called Winter Mode that says it will heat the battery for charging. The problem is that it does not heat it enough to improve charging speeds. It does not work as advertised. There is also very little information from Kia in the owner's manual or online as to what Winter Mode actually does. I, along with other owners, understood that Winter Mode was battery preconditioning. Evidently, it is not. What I do know is that it does not heat it enough to achieve reasonable charging rates let alone the advertized rate.

Kia knows this, made a software fix, and chose to only release it in one area of the world. Kia advertises being able to charge the vehicle from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. Without preconditioning, this takes nearly three hours on a cold day and is nowhere close to meeting their advertised claim. I want them to operate a business in good faith, and I want them to back their product.

I simply want Kia to do two things.
1) I Kia to release the battery preconditioning software update in the Canada
2) I also want Kia to push future software updates as they become available; otherwise they lower the resale values and disenfranchise owners of these, and similar vehicles, that depend on updates to maintain proper operation of the vehicle.

This is the link to announcement of the upgrade made available to Kia owners in Europe.

Kia offers EV6 software update for faster cold-weather charging

Regards,
 
#7 ·
Latest salvo
RE: MY2022 EV6 GT Line VIN #

This email is to advise you that I will be filing a complaint against KIA Canada with both the Federal and the Provincial Consumer Affairs and Protection Services respectively, the Competiton Bureau for deceptive marketing practises, unless you can assure me that battery pre-conditioning will be made available for my car.

To wit Kia Canada misrepresented a key feature of the car. That feature is now available via a software update; which Kia has issued to European vehicles. However Kia Canada advise that there are no plans to offer it in the Canada. The feature is called battery preconditioning. This feature heats or cools the battery to the a more optimized temperature that is necessary to get the charging speeds advertised when charging the car.

Kia has a feature in the car called Winter Mode that says it will heat the battery for charging. The problem is that it does not heat it enough to improve charging speeds. It does not work as advertised. There is also very little information from Kia in the owner's manual or online as to what Winter Mode actually does. I, along with other owners, understood that Winter Mode was battery preconditioning. Evidently, it is not. What I do know is that it does not heat it enough to achieve reasonable charging rates let alone the advertized rate.

Kia knows this, made a software fix, and chose to only release it in one area of the world. Kia advertises being able to charge the vehicle from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. Without preconditioning, this takes nearly three hours on a cold day and is nowhere close to meeting their advertised claim. I want them to operate a business in good faith, and I want them to back their product.

I simply want Kia to do two things.
1) I Kia to release the battery preconditioning software update in the Canada
2) I also want Kia to push future software updates as they become available; otherwise they lower the resale values and disenfranchise owners of these, and similar vehicles, that depend on updates to maintain proper operation of the vehicle.

This is the link to announcement of the upgrade made available to Kia owners in Europe.

Kia offers EV6 software update for faster cold-weather charging

Regards,
this is what I just got back:
Rectangle Font Parallel Software Number
 
#19 ·
Its available in Europe but not in UK yet. In Ireland you can get it & they are rigtht hand drive like UK. My dealer is saying it will be a chargeable update when released
 
#21 ·
What's a "Search bar"? ;)

Not a criticism towards OP specifically, but isn't it funny that folks know to use Google search (or their favorite search tool of choice) when trying to find out about something, yet for whatever reason don't consider using a forum's search function/feature to look up something.
 
#29 ·
According to the following post by @TechnicallyJeff battery preconditioning was released yesterday (6-April) to canadian dealers.


Jeff said he got it from a French site.
 
#30 ·
I spoke with my dealer service manager today. He said that the BMS software update is legitimate. He also said I have to wait for an official letter from Kia before he can do the work. Assuming this update is what it appears to be, battery pre-conditioning for MY 2022 EV6s built prior to July 2022 is a thing. I will post once I get the letter from Kia Canada. And I will post again once I get the update.
 
#31 ·
More about TSBs for battery preconditioning. I imagine most reading this have been watching related posts elsewhere on the forum so I apologize in advance for redundancy.

In the USA the battery preconditioning is now available and now being installed/applied. There appear to be three dealer installed software updates for battery preconditioning.
TSB ELE 291 BMS software update
TSB ELE 292 (SA 533) VCU software upgrade for I-pedal operation.
TSB ELE 283 VCMS battery charging logic improvement on certain 2022MY EV6 (CV) vehicles produced from November 17, 2021 through February 21, 2023 in order to improve the ‘i-Pedal’ operation logic (Kia's wording).

One must also have the latest map update installed (by you or the dealer).

Unfortunately none of the above USA TSB numbers apply to Canada. However, I feel certain that
a) the Canadian TSB ELE 03202301 is equivalent to the US TSB 291
b) the Canadian SA 230018 is equivalent to the US TSB 292.
Hopefully someone here in Canada will get the update then verify or correct the info above and also find out the Canadian TSB which is equivalent to the USA TSB 283.

Incidentally, once one has the full complement of software updates installed there is the bonus feature of the parking brake being automatically applied when selecting Park.

An important point raised by US owners who have had the updates installed is that it is not automatically provided by dealers. The updates don't show up in the dealer's recall info. Dealers have to be told these software updates are necessary for one to have proper cold weather charging. In one of the TSBs Kia USA states, "This upgrade must be conducted based on a customer’s complaint."
 
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#32 ·
I’m a little under 3,000km away from the next service so it’ll be a while for me. My dealer typically looks up updates to apply when I take the car in (E.g. the meridian audio amp logic update. I knew about it but I let them prompt me to see if they do check). I trust they will unless, like the US, the customer had to specifically ask.

For example, the squeaky doors on the GT-Line have a TSB attached to it but the customer has to ask. I haven’t asked for it even though mine squeaks because it requires them to take apart all the interior door panels to access the area required to apply the grease that the factory forgot. Right now, I’m debating between longevity of that part without the grease versus them taking apart door panels and possibly dealing with creaks and rattles later (esp if tabs were broken)
 
#37 ·
Preconditioning progress (or lack thereof :() update:

As I wrote in a post above, I contacted my dealer service manager on the 10th about getting the battery preconditioning update since there is a Canadian TSB for it. He advised me I would need a letter from Kia Canada before he could do the work.

So on the 11th I used Kia Canada's online system to create a case number, explaining that I wanted to know how to get a document that would permit my dealer to provide the battery preconditioning update. I included the TSB number.

Today is the 18th, a week later, and all I've received is an automated email response to my creating an online case number. I have not heard anything else from Kia.

So I called them today. I was told that my case had been assigned but the person to whom it was assigned was not available when I called. The support person I was speaking with assured me she would forward, via an email to the person assigned to my case number, the fact that I had called and was disappointed I had not heard anything back in a week. She also advised that it will likely take several days before anyone gets back to me as that person will have to "research" my case since they likely don't have the necessary information, and that there is no way to know how long it will take before they get a response to their "research". :mad:

Anyone in Canada having better success in getting the battery preconditioning update? What about especially in Quebec, since the original TSB was in French?
 
#38 · (Edited)
I got it at Dixie Kia. Its in their system and they applied it..... However, my car came back with a scratch on the door; probably a tool or ring did it. They said they would fix it; but idk yet as I have to go back for that + some other things....

Got all 3 done:
1) ipedal update
- this was automatic. Seems its a must
- no real change that I can tell. my July built EV6 already had auto brake engagement even without ipedal or autohold as I checked before getting it applied.
- restart of car still requires manual enablement of ipedal.

2) vcmu update
- Had to complain that my charging stops randomly above 40A. However I have an odd charging arrangement that I noticed it pulls higher Amps at Max (still under the EVSE set amp but my EVSE errors out) now which didn't really help me. This could help someone in the forums that I remember reading that it usually pulled in less Amps on maximum then the EVSE specifying.
- I wanted this as it would be better to have it continue to charge on lower AMPS 'if' it overheats rather than stops. My home charging situation however is fine without it.

3) precon
- also had to complain that charging was 'slow' in the winter and he had to search quite hard in the system to find it. I worked with "Rocky - the service manager" so he probably knows about it now if you want to go see him.
- works well as per all the precon forum posts. One thing to note if you want to use it as an on / off switch is that you can navigate to ANY closest DC charger and just disregard the maps and keep driving ignoring the directions. It keeps charging even when you go further out then 20mins once it has started it seems. But once you set a destination in waze/google maps with Android Auto, navigation does disable in the car which disables the precon....

NOTE: once the above 3 was applied all charge type settings except times are reset so you'll want to be sure you put those back. (min/max/etc..)
 
#39 ·
@silvrsi

Thank you for posting. Great you got the update!
Was Dixie Kia where you bought your EV6?
How long did it take to get an appointment?
Were you able to wait for it and how long did it take?
 
#40 ·
Nope. Orangeville. shouldn't matter as they all charge back kia headoffice for the time.

I booked a week ahead but that was just convenient for my time. you can check their appointment times online at kia.ca and just book.

Waited pretty long 5 hours+? But really the update only takes <2hrs. They only had 1 ev specialist so I guess he was busy until he got to my car....
 
#41 ·
Thanks, Silvrsi, great info. Guess I won't get my set and forget I-pedal driving any time soon.
BTW. Both Robby and Kiaev said that they don't use or rarely use I-pedal. I always use mine in the city and would hate to be without it. If anything I would like another level for quicker braking.
I am curious as to why you guys have gone off I-pedal.
 
#42 ·
Thanks, Silvrsi, great info. Guess I won't get my set and forget I-pedal driving any time soon.
BTW. Both Robby and Kiaev said that they don't use or rarely use I-pedal. I always use mine in the city and would hate to be without it. If anything I would like another level for quicker braking.
I am curious as to why you guys have gone off I-pedal.
¯\(ツ)/¯ I just leave it in L3 Auto, it's kinda set-and-forget. There are some reasons I suppose but I honestly I don't think about it any more:
1) I don't have to turn it on every drive (or after reversing) like I have to do with iPedal. This is probably the main reason.
2) Noticeably better efficiency
3) Slightly smoother ride for my young passengers
 
#44 ·
I think its just how you drive. when i use ipedal - i hold it in a cruise type mode by modulating the accelerator (not accel or decel) which is best for efficency.... I just like to lift off for the brake...

its the same for highway - just don't accelerate or decelerate as there are losses.
 
#45 ·
I think a lot of this has to do with driving style and personal comfort rather than range, at least if you charge at home and are not doing highway driving.

I'm with @silvrsi and prefer using I-peda/ECO model in the city, even though both motors are always engaged. I find the more gradual acceleration/braking in ECO mode relaxing. In city traffic frequently moving between accelerator and brake can be tiring.

I've tried driving in level 3/standard and using the left lever for braking and stopping, but don't care for it as it often enough requires a touch to the brake pedal as well.

I think there is a small safety advantage with I-pedal in that in an emergency stop, once you remove your foot from the accelerator the vehicle is immediately slowing down, even before your foot is on the break pedal. Milliseconds can be important in those instances.

On the highway I let the car do the driving so I am in ECO mode/Auto/Cruise control. I find I get pretty good range that way. I do wish one could have regular cruise control (which I've had on most vehicles) for those instances when the radar is blocked by ice but visibility and roads are good. I hate having to stop often to clean it off just to have cruise. All it takes is a little freezing road spray from vehicles in front of me to kill the smart cruise.

The things which impact my range most beyond my driving style (not aggressive) are things such as weather and terrain which are beyond my control. Fortunately I haven't done any trips in a DCFC charging desert so I haven't had to eek out the last erg of energy.
 
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