The Kia EV9 SUV and the Ram 1500 REV pickup are the latest electric vehicles coming to the Canadian market, according to details revealed at the 2023 New York Auto Show

Kia and Stellantis are showcasing brand-new all-electric vehicles for the Canadian market this week at the 2023 New York International Auto Show.

Kia’s first-ever electric three-row SUV, the EV9, will be available in both six- and seven-seat configurations. It is the second Kia model based on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and the first to have Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology designed for improved energy density.

Meanwhile, Stellantis has its first battery-electric light-duty pickup truck: the Ram 1500 REV. Most notably, it’s boasts a potential range of over 800 kilometres per charge.

Canadians can expect to see the 2024 EV9 available for purchase in the latter half of this year, says Kia.

Stellantis expects the 2025 Ram 1500 REV to hit the market by the end of 2024, says a spokesperson in an email to Electric Autonomy.

The EV9’s design and capabilities

The Kia EV9 is similar in size to the automaker’s Telluride gas-powered SUV, but with a longer wheelbase. This provides more legroom for passengers than most large electric or combustion luxury SUVs on the market, says Kia.

The cargo capacity is 571 litres with all seats in place. This increases to 2,320 litres when the second and third rows fold down.

Sustainable materials make up the interior design. These include polyurethane seating surfaces, BTX-free interior trim and carpeting and fabrics from recycled materials.

Canadian buyers will be getting two configurations of the EV9. There is a single-motor version with a 99.8-kWh battery, targeting a range of 480 km per charge. And a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version.

The EV9’s DC charging capabilities can reach charging speeds of up to 230 kW, making the vehicle capable of going from a 10 to 80 percent charge in under 25 minutes. Additionally, the vehicle has a built-in onboard 11kW charger that can convert AC power from external sources to DC power to charge the battery.

“The launch of the EV9 marks an important milestone for Kia and showcases our ability to continuously go above and beyond for customers by offering innovative, best-in-class electric vehicles,” says Elias El-Achhab, vice-president and chief operating office of Kia Canada in a press release. “The EV9 will pioneer the SUV segment as a three-row EV SUV for both Canadians and the automotive industry.”

New operational systems

Kia is introducing a range of features with the EV9, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems with collision-avoidance and active assist technologies. These ADAS systems have LiDAR-capable technologies.

Notably, both of Kia’s Lane Following Assist and Advanced Highway Driving Assist (AHDA) technologies are making their North American debuts on the EV9, says Kia.

The EV9 also includes the brand’s latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system. This system has the ability to receive over-the-air updates. Kia’s EV9 also includes a navigation tool with estimated arrival times and recommended charging stops along the way.

Additionally, the EV9 includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality. Up to 3.6kW of power may be drawn from the vehicle’s battery to charge other small electrical items.

Ram 1500’s 800-km range and features

The Ram 1500 REV is built on Stellantis’ new STLA Frame platform. The platform is designed “specifically for full-size electric vehicles featuring a body-on-frame design,” says Stellantis.

The STLA Frame platform has chassis that is wider in the middle to accommodate a battery pack.

The Ram 1500 REV will come in six trim levels: Tradesman, Big Horn, Sport (Canada-exclusive), Laramie, Limited, and the all-new Tungsten.

All models will use dual 250kW electric drive modules (EDMs) that integrate the motor, gearbox and inverter to provide all-wheel drive functionality.

RAM customers have a choice between two battery sizes. The standard 168-kWh battery pack is expected to have up to 560 kilometres in range. The larger 229-kWh battery pack will provide over 800 kilometres in range.

Both options can add up to 177 kilometres of range in only 10 minutes through 800-volt DC fast charging with speeds up to 350 kW.

Just like the Kia EV9, the Ram 1500 REV also features bi-directional charging. The onboard power panel in the vehicle’s 5.7-foot-long cargo bed can provide up to 7.2 kW, while the available onboard power panel in the 425-litre frunk (front trunk) provides up to 3.6 kW.

The pickup’s other notable features include autonomous vehicle capabilities like Hands-free Active Driving Assist and ParkSense Automated Parking System.

“The all-electric Ram 1500 REV is a monumental milestone on our continued journey to offer the industry’s best-electrified solutions and further fortifies our award-winning lineup,” said Mike Koval Jr., Ram brand CEO at Stellantis, in a press statement.

“We believe in bringing the right range of powertrain solutions to our customers and will continue to redefine the pickup truck segment.”

Further information on the pricing and model lineups for both vehicles will be announced at later dates.