According to an announcement published on the Ohme website, Kia UK has appointed Ohme and Radius as preferred EV charge point suppliers for customers using its commercial electric vehicle network.
The Kia Ohme Electric Van Charging Partnership will see Kia customers directed to Ohme for home charging requirements, while Radius will support larger fleet and depot charging projects.
This Electrical4Less article is an independent summary of the announcement. Electrical4Less did not make the announcement and is not part of the preferred supplier arrangement between Kia UK, Ohme and Radius.
What Has Kia UK Announced?
Kia UK has selected Ohme and Radius to help support customers purchasing electric commercial vehicles through its network of Kia PBV Centres.
According to information published by Ohme and Kia UK, Ohme will concentrate on home charging requirements. Radius will provide support for larger businesses requiring fleet or depot charging infrastructure.
The arrangement is intended to give Kia’s commercial vehicle customers a clearer route from selecting an electric vehicle to arranging a suitable charging solution.
What Does PBV Mean?
PBV stands for Platform Beyond Vehicle. Kia uses the term for its range of adaptable electric vehicles and associated services designed for businesses, passenger transport and specialist applications.
The Kia PV5 is one of the first vehicles within this range and is available in Passenger and Cargo versions. The PV5 Cargo is intended for commercial users such as delivery businesses, service companies, tradespeople and fleet operators.
Although Kia uses the term PBV, many customers may simply recognise the PV5 Cargo as Kia’s electric van.
What Does the Kia Ohme Electric Van Charging Partnership Cover?
The arrangement covers different charging requirements depending on how and where the electric vehicle will normally be parked.
Home charging with Ohme
Kia PV5 customers requiring a charger at home can be directed to Ohme. This may suit private drivers, sole traders and smaller businesses where the van is regularly parked at a residential property overnight.
A suitable home charger can allow the vehicle to be charged between working days without relying entirely on public charging points.
Fleet and depot charging with Radius
Businesses operating several electric vans may require a larger charging system at a workplace, warehouse or depot.
These projects may need to consider the number of vehicles, available electrical capacity, simultaneous charging, access management, energy monitoring and possible future expansion. Kia customers requiring this type of infrastructure can be directed to Radius.
Can an Ohme Charger Be Used with a Kia PV5?
Ohme’s announcement specifically refers to supporting customers using Kia PV5 Passenger and Cargo vehicles.
Ohme offers 7.4kW single-phase smart home chargers for compatible electric vehicles. The actual charging speed will depend on the vehicle, its onboard charging capacity, the electrical supply and the charger installation.
Before ordering a charger, a suitably qualified electrician or EV charge point installer should check:
- The available electrical supply capacity
- The property’s earthing arrangement
- The proposed charger location
- The distance between the charger and the vehicle
- The required charging cable length
- Any load balancing or load management requirements
Customers should also confirm the charging connection and specification of their exact Kia PV5 model.
Ohme Home Pro or Ohme ePod?
Electrical4Less supplies the two main Ohme home EV charger options: the tethered Ohme Home Pro and the socketed Ohme ePod.
Ohme Home Pro
The Ohme Home Pro is a tethered 7.4kW smart EV charger with a permanently attached Type 2 charging cable.
It includes an LCD screen, charger controls and access through the Ohme smartphone app. The Home Pro is available with 5 metre and 8 metre charging cable options.
A tethered charger is generally convenient for drivers who want to park the vehicle, remove the attached cable from its holder and plug it directly into the van.
The 8 metre version may be useful where the vehicle cannot always be parked immediately beside the charger. However, the cable route and parking arrangement should be checked before choosing the required length.
Ohme ePod
The Ohme ePod is a compact socketed 7.4kW smart EV charger. It does not have a permanently attached vehicle charging cable, so the driver connects a separate compatible Type 2 cable when charging.
The ePod can provide a cleaner appearance when the charger is not in use because the cable can be disconnected and stored separately.
It may also provide more flexibility where different cable lengths are required or where the driver prefers to keep the charging lead in the vehicle.
Does the Ohme ePod Work with the Ohme App?
Yes. Both the Ohme Home Pro and Ohme ePod can be managed through the Ohme smartphone app.
Depending on the vehicle, electricity tariff and selected charger settings, the app can be used to create charging routines, select when the vehicle needs to be ready and monitor charging activity.
Ohme states that its smart chargers can schedule charging around compatible electricity tariffs and selected charging preferences.
Actual charging costs and potential savings will depend on the customer’s electricity tariff, vehicle, battery level, charging schedule and energy consumption. Neither Electrical4Less nor the charger can guarantee a particular charging cost or saving.
Why Is This Partnership Relevant?
Businesses moving to electric vans must consider more than the vehicle’s range, payload and purchase price. They must also decide where the vehicle will be charged and whether the available electrical supply is suitable.
The Kia Ohme Electric Van Charging Partnership shows that Kia is considering charging infrastructure as part of its wider support for electric commercial vehicle customers.
It also gives Kia PV5 drivers a recognised smart home charging option while providing larger fleet operators with a route to more substantial depot charging support.
The partnership does not mean that Kia PV5 customers are required to purchase an Ohme charger. The most suitable charger should always be selected according to the vehicle, property, electrical installation, parking arrangement and customer requirements.
Ohme EV Chargers Stocked by Electrical4Less
Electrical4Less stocks a selection of Ohme EV chargers, including the tethered Ohme Home Pro with 5 metre and 8 metre cable options and the socketed Ohme ePod.
Our Ohme chargers are available for collection from our Fulham trade counter or for delivery across the UK. Current availability is shown on the individual product pages and may vary by model and cable length.
Whether the charger is being installed for a Kia PV5, another electric van or a passenger electric vehicle, the charger type and cable length should be selected according to the vehicle, parking position and installation requirements.
Customers should confirm their charger type, cable length and installation requirements with their electrician or EV charge point installer before ordering.
Original Announcement and Sources
The information about the partnership was originally published by Ohme and has also been confirmed by Kia UK:
- Read the original announcement on the Ohme website
- View Kia UK’s information about its preferred PBV charge point suppliers
Electrical4Less is an independent retailer of Ohme charging equipment. Electrical4Less is not a Kia PBV Centre, was not the source of the partnership announcement and is not acting on behalf of Kia UK, Ohme or Radius.
Vehicle specifications, charger features, electricity tariffs and partnership arrangements may change. Customers should check current information with the relevant manufacturer, electricity supplier or installation provider before making a purchasing decision.
Kia Ohme Electric Van Charging Partnership