[eurosteve]

Any update regarding long term storage solution? I just picked up my EV6 and will need to store it for couple months really soon.

For my previous Tesla Model 3, extended storage recommendation was simply keep the car plugged into charger and set a 6-70% main battery charge, not sure why it’s not recommended for EV6 since the main battery will kick in to charge the 12v when needed?

I may just do the disconnecting negative terminal on the 12v if there is no other better solution.

I have been in communication with KIA and they recommend disconnecting the 12v battery rather than leaving it plugged in. They also recommend that someone needs to charge the car every 3 months. I'm trying to find out more from them as to why they recommend this...

 

[Jrabson]

A lead acid battery has about a 4% self-discharge rate per week. I would recommend putting a battery maintainer on it if you plan to disconnect it and leave for 10-12 weeks. (Personally, I don't think you need to disconnect it to put the maintainer on. The maintainer should keep the voltage up to normal, and the car won't need to add more to it.)

 

[Jrabson]

The only problem with that is that Kia’s corporate technicians are adamant that both positive and negative terminals need to be disconnected from the car before putting on the maintainer. I have spoken with several service managers who have spoken with Kia directly so presumably this represents the opinion of several Kia technicians, all in consensus. Yes, the resetting of everything is not organized in the manual and seems a hassle. But I suspect these only represent preferences and not functionality. I hope someone comes up with a solution that doesn’t require resetting and is approved by Kia.

 

[eurosteve]

The only problem with that is that Kia’s corporate technicians are adamant that both positive and negative terminals need to be disconnected from the car before putting on the maintainer. I have spoken with several service managers who have spoken with Kia directly so presumably this represents the opinion of several Kia technicians, all in consensus. Yes, the resetting of everything is not organized in the manual and seems a hassle. But I suspect these only represent preferences and not functionality. I hope someone comes up with a solution that doesn’t require resetting and is approved by Kia.

I completely disconnected the 12v battery (positive and negative leads) when I left the EV6 for 6 weeks recently. All was well when I returned. The SOC of the main battery stayed at 66% (where I left it) and the car started but I don't know the SOC of the 12 v battery. As far as resetting things after reconnecting the 12v battery, whatever required resettig was very minimal. Since I only had the car for 2 days before leaving it, I had very few preferences set. It remembered my XM radio presets...

I'm still puzzled over the recommendation to charge every 3 months while in storage, even though the 12v battery is disconnected. That would require someone reconnecting the 12 v battery and then putting it on the charger. And I expect (based on my recent 6 weeks storage experience) that the SOC of the main battery will be unchanged after 12 weeks, since it was unchanged after 6 weeks. So I'm not sure what the point of that exercise would be.

I called KIA technical support but I got a fellow who admitted that they are there just to regurgitate what the manual says. I wonder how one reaches a thinking, human, engineer type person at KIA.

 

[DMiller]

It would be very unusual to be able to reach a "thinking person" and get their personal opinion. The disruption to the public corporate advice would only hurt the company. Privately, internal discussions have a (small) chance to revise their position on a topic, but to allow some number of individuals to each say anything just can't help the company. Companies where I've worked all have policies prohibiting employees from speaking with the press. The people you reach on the phones or through emails are following the script because they are prohibited from 'thinking' for themselves.

 

[blit]

Agree with what Jrabson said above!

 

[blit]

While I understand what KIA is recommending regarding "disconnecting the 12v battery" I would like them to specifically tell me that a quality "smart tender" ( not a charger ) is NOT acceptable! So far that has not been confirmed.

 

[blit]

While I understand what KIA is recommending regarding "disconnecting the 12v battery" I would like them to specifically tell me that a quality "smart tender" ( not a charger ) is NOT acceptable! So far that has not been confirmed.

Any further thoughts about using a "smart"tender ?? The one I have used on many other vehicles is a "Deltran"

 

[Jrabson]

Any further thoughts about using a "smart"tender ?? The one I have used on many other vehicles is a "Deltran"

I plan on using the Battery Tender Plus, as I do on my Prius. My understanding is that the EV 6 uses a standard lead 12 v battery and if disconnected from the car circuitry should be just like your other vehicles. Two service managers did not see a problem with using this tender and one said he did check with Kia. A Delran rep on the phone was shocked to learn that electric cars had 12 v batteries, so that did not help. I ordered a GT-line and of course have no idea when it is coming. I’ll be storing it in GA for 2-3 months at a time, winter and summer. If mine explodes, I’ll let you know. If yours explodes let me know.

 

[blit]

I plan on using the Battery Tender Plus, as I do on my Prius. My understanding is that the EV 6 uses a standard lead 12 v battery and if disconnected from the car circuitry should be just like your other vehicles. Two service managers did not see a problem with using this tender and one said he did check with Kia. A Delran rep on the phone was shocked to learn that electric cars had 12 v batteries, so that did not help. I ordered a GT-line and of course have no idea when it is coming. I’ll be storing it in GA for 2-3 months at a time, winter and summer. If mine explodes, I’ll let you know. If yours explodes let me know.

Will do!!!

 

[Paul Henry X-Ray]

I don't see that anyone's spoken to the reset procedures yet, so, I'll answer.

In my experience, resetting auto-up windows is pretty standard across different brands, including my Elantra. Here in the desert, we're lucky to get 3 years out of a 12V battery thanks to the summer heat, so I've had quite a bit of practice resetting one-touch window and sunroof controls.

The copy of the manual I have skips over the window reset procedure almost entirely, so I'll write out the method I use:

Lower the window to about halfway open, then pull and hold the window switch to close it (the whole way, position 2 or the second "click"). Keep holding it for about 10 seconds even after the window has fully closed. Let go. Push the auto-down position, let the window open all of the way. Then, try the auto-up. It should work as expected now.

Regarding the sunroof, the manual has a whole procedure on that on pages 5-38 & 5-39 (attached images).

In terms of "resetting" the memory positions, I think you just need to make sure the seat & mirrors are where you want them to be, then hold "SET" and push 1 or 2, just like when you set it for the first time. Climate is probably the same - if you left the driver on 72º and the passenger on 74º, recirculate and fan speed 3 (for example), it may not remember that.

 

[SaxMan]

Just got my EV6 a couple of days ago. Will be needing to store it for four months over the winter. I was planning to disconnect the 12v battery and it put on a tender over the winter as recommended here, but was wondering why not just set up scheduled charging to automatically charge weekly (which I believe is the longest interval available) and just leave it plugged in?

 

[blit]

Just got my EV6 a couple of days ago. Will be needing to store it for four months over the winter. I was planning to disconnect the 12v battery and it put on a tender over the winter as recommended here, but was wondering why not just set up scheduled charging to automatically charge weekly (which I believe is the longest interval available) and just leave it plugged in?

I don't have my EV6 yet, but I will be storing it for two months every summer.......after reading all that's available here and various other places, what I have determined is: 1. leaving the vehicle plugged in and on an automated charge schedule does sound like a solution , BUT there are two concerns: 1. constant application of the charge process ( even though only at designated times) and no significant discharge may not be healthy for the drive battery. 2. leaving the vehicle plugged in to household current without my ability to be there to unplug it during potential nasty storms is too scary. So.....I will indeed be disconnecting the 12v and putting on a Deltran smart tender for the two month period.

 

[SaxMan]

I'm storing my EV6 for two weeks while traveling, as a pretest for storing it for a few months over the winter. I'm using a battery tender (NOCO Genius) and leaving the 12v terminals connected. I figure that if the battery is kept up to charge it will not call on the HV for charging, so there should not be any conflict (and NOCO rep thought so as well). Anyone else used this approach with success - or at least no major injury to the battery?

The one minor issue is that the hood needs to be open a crack to keep from crimping the tender wires, but the dash display keeps showing the hood-open alert. I assume that the display is drawing on the 12v and won't be a problem while the tender is attached. But does anyone know how to kill the hood alert (or how to thread the wires out from under a closed hood)?

 

[blit]

I'm storing my EV6 for two weeks while traveling, as a pretest for storing it for a few months over the winter. I'm using a battery tender (NOCO Genius) and leaving the 12v terminals connected. I figure that if the battery is kept up to charge it will not call on the HV for charging, so there should not be any conflict (and NOCO rep thought so as well). Anyone else used this approach with success - or at least no major injury to the battery?

The one minor issue is that the hood needs to be open a crack to keep from crimping the tender wires, but the dash display keeps showing the hood-open alert. I assume that the display is drawing on the 12v and won't be a problem while the tender is attached. But does anyone know how to kill the hood alert (or how to thread the wires out from under a closed hood)?

I have a Deltran tender with a long and very durable power supply cord that attaches to the clip cords. I sit the tender on the floor of my garage, feed the power supply cord up and over the front end the vehicle, attach the clips to the terminals then gently bring the hood down and push it into the locked position.....works well and has shown no abuse to the cord.

 

[SaxMan]

I have a Deltran tender with a long and very durable power supply cord that attaches to the clip cords. I sit the tender on the floor of my garage, feed the power supply cord up and over the front end the vehicle, attach the clips to the terminals then gently bring the hood down and push it into the locked position.....works well and has shown no abuse to the cord.

That worked, thanks. And by the time I was back at the car to close the hood, the dash alert had stopped flashing.

 

[ronsk74]

Just got my EV6 a couple of days ago. Will be needing to store it for four months over the winter. I was planning to disconnect the 12v battery and it put on a tender over the winter as recommended here, but was wondering why not just set up scheduled charging to automatically charge weekly (which I believe is the longest interval available) and just leave it plugged in?

As an example, my Wind AWD charges the 12v battery every 30 to 36 hours when not used, and it does this consistantly. I know because I have a battery monitor on mine. It charges the 12v battery when it gets down to about 12.4 volts and uses about 200whr to do this. If you do the math, charging 30% of a 60ah (720whr) battery from a 77kwhr battery, you wouldn't drain the HV battery if you parked it for a year and it was charged to 100%.

 

[SaxMan]

As an example, my Wind AWD charges the 12v battery every 30 to 36 hours when not used, and it does this consistantly. I know because I have a battery monitor on mine. It charges the 12v battery when it gets down to about 12.4 volts and uses about 200whr to do this. If you do the math, charging 30% of a 60ah (720whr) battery from a 77kwhr battery, you wouldn't drain the HV battery if you parked it for a year and it was charged to 100%.

the manual mentions something about charging the 12v battery 10 times then assuming something is wrong with the12v. What’s the longest time you’ve gone without using the car and has it ever exceeded charging 10times between uses?

 

[ronsk74]

the manual mentions something about charging the 12v battery 10 times then assuming something is wrong with the12v. What’s the longest time you’ve gone without using the car and has it ever exceeded charging 10times between uses?

I've never hit a 10 times charging point between drives, but if that applies to normal interval charging of the 12v battery then one person's idea of leaving the hv plugged in and doing scheduled charges wouldn't work either.

Charging the 12v battery every 30+ hours or so between drives is not an abnormal condition. The car uses most of that 12v power to send data home to moma (kia connect) and everytime you use your kia connect to see if your doors are locked or what ever, you see the battery voltage drop by about half a volt for 3 or 4 minutes. My car sitting in the garage with the garage door closed can't communicate and the 12v battery will go for days without charging. I could be wrong but I don't believe the 10 charge limit applies to regular interval charging of the 12v battery.

 

[ppheijnen]

I'll be picking up my new EV6 in a couple of weeks but I'll need to store it for a couple of months shortly after delivery. I'm trying to figure out the best way to store it, mainly to preserve the 12 volt battery. (I'm thinking that if I leave the big battery at around 50%, it should be okay a few months.)

The manual says to disconnect both battery terminals "if the vehicle is not going to be used for an extended period." Later in the manual it goes on to say that the following items should be reset after the battery has been discharged or the battery has been disconnected: Auto up/down window, wide sunroof, trip computer, climate control system, integrated memory system, and audio.

I'm not sure what is involved in resetting all of the items listed. Can I reset them by just running through the menu system or is this something that requires the KIA service department?

As I think more about it, I guess my question boils down to how much of a hassle is created by disconnecting and reconnecting the 12 v battery. I would think that surely the 12 volt battery can be replaced without bringing the car to a KIA mechanic...

Any ideas on the 12 volt battery and on storing the vehicle in general are greatly appreciated!

The EV6 has a function that detected lower voltage of 12V battery and it will charge it when it gets to low on voltage.
I have quite some experience with LiPo batteries last 5yrs with my hobby of flying RC helicopters. One thing I noticed is that when you store batteries in a place where temperature is stable and relatively cool the Batteries do not drain and keep healthy (Basement).

When you have your car not operating for a long time, try to avoid that it will be in the sunlight..

Also batteries drain a lot faster when fully charged. This feels odd and they will keep on draining. While when you leave them between 60-40% they are very stable.
Since some other items will drain real power, I would adise to keep it around 50%-60%

Can you connect it to granny charger? then you could remotely start/stop recharging with the App when you find out that it did not work out