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Kia EV Owners Get Access to Tesla Superchargers in the U.S.

April 28, 2025

Kia EV owners now have access to over 21,500 Tesla Superchargers, plus 22,000+ other fast chargers, totaling over 40,000 DC fast chargers nationwide.
Kia increased its accessible DC fast charger network by more than 80% by adopting Tesla’s NACS system.
Owners of older Kia EVs with CCS1 charging ports can now get NACS-to-CCS1 adapters through dealers to access Tesla Superchargers.

Ever felt that gut-dropping panic when you watch your EV’s range slip into the danger zone? Yeah. That sweaty-palmed, “where’s the nearest charger?” scramble that feels like trying to find a bathroom in the middle of a desert. Well, if you drive a Kia EV6, EV9, or Niro EV, you might want to sit down because things just got a whole lot less stressful.

Kia has officially opened access to over 21,500 Tesla Superchargers for its EV drivers across the U.S., a decision that feels long overdue. Combined with the 22,000-plus DC fast chargers already available through other networks, Kia owners now have access to more than 40,000 fast charging locations nationwide. Range anxiety has became a lot less of a problem.

Guide to the cheapest used electric car - Kia — A person sitting inside a Kia electric vehicle, examining the interior and steering wheel at Electrify Expo

Seungkyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, said, “Now, with access to the Tesla Supercharger network of DC fast chargers, our EV owners can feel even more confident in their decision to purchase or lease a fully electric Kia vehicle.”

And confidence matters, especially when you’re racing across town with just 2% battery left and praying every red light does not leave you stranded.

Access to the Tesla network is available for Kia owners through the Kia Access app and the Kia Charge Pass program. The process is simple. Owners enroll, search for available chargers using the infotainment screen or their smartphone, and instantly find what they need. The system also provides real-time information on charger availability, status, and pricing, helping drivers avoid pulling up to a station that is out of service or offline.

Kia has expanded its available DC fast chargers by over 80 percent. Yes, eighty percent. That number is real. And they are not alone. The rush to access Tesla Superchargers now feels a lot like a Black Friday crowd racing through the doors.

Ford and Rivian were first to announce they were switching to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. General Motors (GM) jumped in. Then Honda, Volvo, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Subaru, and even Peter Rawlinson of Lucid said, “Adopting NACS is an important next step… to reliable and convenient charging solutions.”

It’s like watching the cool kids at lunch move tables. No one wants to be left behind.

Kia Breaks Sales Records with EVs and SUVs Driving Growth in October - EV9 at Electrify Expo — _{Electrify Expo attendees check out the features of the Kia EV9 and EV6.}

Tesla Superchargers used to be an exclusive club. Now they feel more like the VIP lounge everyone is lining up to access.

And it matters. The Tesla Supercharger network is known for being the most reliable, with a recent J.D. Power analysis showing Tesla stations scoring far higher in customer satisfaction compared to competitors. Reliability is only part of the story. Speed matters too. Many Tesla Superchargers can add around 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. To put that in perspective, that is faster than waiting for your coffee order on a packed Sunday morning at Starbucks.

Of course, not every Kia EV rolls off the lot ready to plug into a Tesla Supercharger. Some older models still use the CCS1 charging port, which means they need a little extra help. To fix that, Kia offers NACS-to-CCS1 adapters through its dealers. It is a simple solution that keeps early adopters from feeling like they bought a Betamax when the world decided on VHS.

Kia America recently addressed some unauthorized marketing posts created by Nordic distributors overseas. These posts were developed independently without guidance from Kia America, Kia Europe, or Kia Global, and do not reflect the company’s official position. Maintaining clear and professional communication matters, especially when customer trust and financial decisions are involved.

Even with all the tech upgrades and access improvements, this decision feels personal. Reliable fast charging changes what it feels like to own an EV. It turns daily driving into something you can actually enjoy instead of making every trip a stressful search for a working charger. After so many reports of vandalized Tesla Superchargers, which Kia strongly condemned, having a dependable and affordable place to plug in feels less like a luxury and more like a basic need. Just like fresh air. Or a good meme at the right moment.

In the end, Kia drivers benefit. Tesla benefits. And anyone who has ever wasted 45 minutes at a broken charger with a dying phone finally gets a break.

So here is what you should do if you are a Kia EV owner:

Download the Kia Access app.
Enroll in the Kia Charge Pass program.
Grab a NACS adapter if your EV still rocks the CCS1 port.
Smile the next time someone asks, “Aren’t you worried about charging?” Because now, you can answer: “Nope. I’m good.”