Kia Canada announced an innovative partnership with Variablegrid Adaptive Power Inc., a Canadian energy technology leader specializing in electric vehicle (EV) energy management. As the first automotive brand in Canada to partner with Variablegrid, Kia continues to lead EV accessibility by introducing groundbreaking solutions and advanced technology tailored to the Canadian market.

Variablegrid eliminates the cost and complexity of installing a home charger in older homes that may not have enough electrical power to spare for fast, Level-2 EV charging. Using patented adaptive load management technology powered by artificial intelligence, Variablegrid’s Energy Management System (EMS) monitors real-time energy usage and automatically adjusts power to the EV charger based on available capacity. This allows homeowners an EV charger without requiring costly electrical upgrades to their electrical panel that many older homes encounter – making EV ownership simpler, more affordable and more accessible.

“Kia Canada is committed to making electric vehicles accessible and affordable for all Canadians,” says David Sherrard, Director of Strategic Planning at Kia Canada. “Our partnership with Variablegrid directly supports this mission by removing common cost and infrastructure barriers associated with home charging, especially in older homes that cannot support traditional EV chargers.”

Technology adapts charging speeds

Variablegrid’s technology uniquely adapts charging speeds to a home’s available electrical capacity, eliminating the need for electrical panel upgrades that can range from $5,000 to over $10,000. Customers purchasing Kia EVs can include the cost of the Variablegrid EMS and home charger in their vehicle financing, further streamlining the EV ownership experience.

“One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to buy an EV is uncertainty about home charging,” says Dan Lafferty, CEO and Co-founder of Variablegrid. “We’ve bundled everything Kia EV buyers need; smart charging, intelligent power management and a seamless solution designed to simplify the transition to EV ownership. Our partnership with Kia streamlines the home charging sale process and delivers a great ownership experience from the start.”

This partnership reinforces Kia’s expanding EV portfolio, highlighted by the upcoming introduction of the highly anticipated EV5 SUV—exclusive to Canada in North America—and the EV4 compact sedan. These new vehicles further demonstrate Kia’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible electric mobility solutions for Canadian consumers.

The Variablegrid EMS system and home chargers are now available for purchase at all Kia dealerships across Canada and can be added to the build and price of a vehicle on Kia.ca