“Our presence at CES is an opportunity to inform and inspire consumers about the transformative advantages of incorporating electrification into their home lives, powered by Kia vehicles,” said Steven Center, COO and EVP, Kia America. “Kia’s Plan S commitment to advancing sustainable mobility takes shape at CES through demonstrations of versatile applications of V2H technology.”
The Kia Connected HomeTM is designed to be a sensory journey that takes CES visitors through elements of sight, sound, taste and touch, with various activations that highlight Kia’s design philosophy and use of new, innovative materials inspired by nature. Designed with sharp, flowing lines that resemble the Kia logo, the Kia Connected HomeTM reflects the design philosophy of Opposites United, which takes inspiration from contrasts found in nature and humanity. The front yard features the recently unveiled Concept EV3 and Concept EV4 models on display, while an interactive EV9 simulator offers visitors the opportunity to experience the all-electric SUV without leaving the Las Vegas Convention Center.
From the Road to Your Residence: Vehicle-to-Home Integration
As the first Kia EV to support V2H capabilities, in the future, the 2024 EV9 could offer the transformative potential to unlock bidirectional charging for properly equipped homes. At the Kia Connected HomeTM, the EV9 will be connected to the Wallbox Quasar 2 (coming in the future), an innovative, 11.5-kW DC charger that is expected to facilitate bidirectional charging and the ability for the EV9 to act as a mobile power source. Quasar 2 is designed to automatically initiate charging once plugged into the EV9 and, in the event of a power outage, can switch the direction of charging to draw power from the EV9 into the home3. With a battery capacity ranging from 76.1 to 99.8 kWh, the EV9’s battery pack alone surpasses a standard home energy storage system (13.5 kWh) five times over, potentially enabling an EV9 to sustain a typical household’s energy consumption for up to several days. Once grid power is restored, the Quasar 2 is designed to automatically switch back to charging the EV9. Once available, the Quasar 2 can also intelligently identify opportunities for the EV9 to supply power to the home, at times of high electricity rates.
Around the corner from the EV9 V2H simulation, an EV6 exhibits the benefits of V2L technology. V2L also enables the EV6 to supply up to 1,900 watts of power to certain electrical appliances, devices, tools, or recreational equipment.
Transported to Seoul: EV9 Driving Simulation
Taking cues from Kia’s award-winning Unplugged Ground experience in Seoul, the Kia Connected HomeTM features an immersive test drive simulator. Unlike a traditional simulator experience, the Kia Connected HomeTM utilizes an actual EV9 and places the visitor in the driver’s seat directly. First-person perspective 3D video displayed on the screens creates the sensation of driving while the turntable communicates with the content server through network connections, enabling a seamless simulation experience.
During a 15-minute experience inside the Kia Connected HomeTM, visitors can experience new Kia in-vehicle technologies, including Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA-2)4 and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA-2)5. HDA-2 is a driver convenience system that helps to maintain a predetermined distance from the vehicle detected in front, keep the vehicle within detected lane markers on certain highways, and assist in lane changes under certain conditions. RSPA-2 allows remote parking in, or exiting from, certain parking spots with the driver operating the EV9 from outside the vehicle, as well as smart parking while the driver is inside the vehicle.
Juxtaposing Nature and Technology: Concept EV3 and Concept EV4
The Kia Connected HomeTM also introduces the “10 Must-Have Items” that are essential to Kia’s strategy for color, material and finish (CMF). A curated display invites showgoers to explore the materials the brand envisions in its upcoming models, such as bioplastic produced from biomass sources such as vegetable oils, corn extract, sawdust and sugarcane, and bio polyurethane as a replacement for animal-based leather.
“In the realm of design, sustainability is not just a choice—it’s a powerful statement,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America. “It’s about creating beauty with a purpose, where every material tells a story of responsible innovation and lasting impact.”
These materials are integral to the interiors of the all-electric Concept EV3 and Concept EV4 on display outside the Kia Connected HomeTM. The Concept EV3 compact crossover offers the technology, practicality, and design of Kia’s flagship SUV, the EV9, with a high degree of inspiration from the “Joy for Reason” pillar of the Opposites United design philosophy. The Concept EV3 gives a strong impression with a unique silhouette defined by a sloping roofline, disconnected C pillar that links the glasshouse surfaces with a floating roof effect, and robust squared wheel arches cut with asymmetrical angles. Inside, the Concept EV3 creates an ambience that promotes emotional wellbeing with soft mood lighting and ultra-clean dashboard surfacing, with the advanced ergonomic seat designs comprised of natural fiber structures to deliver a lightweight, slimmer seat design.
The Concept EV4 represents the purity of the “Power to Progress” pillar of the Opposites United design philosophy. An entirely new type of EV sedan that stands as a symbol of innovation, it’s brought to life through a harmonious blend of geometric diagonal character lines and rich yet technical surfaces. Its dramatic proportions are reminiscent of sports and racing cars and showcase Kia’s determination to push design boundaries. The cocoonlike interior features a sleek and spacious horizontal layout with an innovative HVAC user interface and pin-style air vents that can change patterns. Handwoven fabric stripes applied to the vehicle’s storage area and dashboard create a 3D effect. Materiality also looms large in the interior of the Concept EV4 through the implementation of natural dyes and recycled cotton.
Going “Beyond Mobility:” Kia PBV Strategy
At a separate event ahead of the opening of the Kia Connected HomeTM, Kia set the stage at CES with an exhibition of five “Platform Beyond Vehicles” (PBV) concept models, showcasing the diverse potential of the future. As part of a multi-phase PBV roadmap, an all-new modular vehicle previewed by the Concept PBV A utilizes an “Easy Swap” technology designed to meet diverse customer needs. The vision for this technology is to enable a single vehicle chassis to serve various purposes with interchangeable modules connected to the base vehicle via a hybrid electromagnetic and mechanical coupling. The idea behind the “Dynamic Hybrid” PBV modular body assembly is to help facilitate quick and straightforward in-field transformations, allowing the PBV A to shift from a daytime taxi, to a nighttime delivery van, to a personal recreational vehicle for the weekends. Concept PBV B is the largest product in the line-up, defined by more interior space, increased driving range, and enhanced functionalities, and the smaller PBV C concept is optimized for agile and short-distance logistics transportation, using corner modules to minimize turning radius even in narrow spaces.