So I Did A Little Bit Of a Test. My Kia EV9 Charge Was 0% And The Car Went Into Limited Power Mode. I Was Able To Drive 20 Miles

Electric vehicle owners often wonder what happens when their battery hits 0%. Does the car stop immediately, or is there some power reserve? It happened to me once, as I was driving a 2024 Nissan Leaf from Columbia, SC to Charlotte, NC, and didn't know if I had to stop somewhere to charge in the middle of the rural area at 10 PM in the late evening. With one full charge of 236 miles we drove from Charlotte, NC to Columbia, SC, then from there to Lexington, SC, charged there in my friend's house with 110 volts for about 4 hours, and drove back to Charlotte through Columbia and still had 25 miles of range left.

Now Julian Torres, a Kia EV9 owner and member of the Kia EV9 Owners USA group on Facebook, yesterday shared her firsthand experience on this topic of how far can you drive a Kia EV9 at 0% charge. Her story sheds a very interesting light on what EV drivers can expect and offers reassurance for anyone concerned about running out of charge. These numbers aren't confirmed Torque News, but her experience is eye opening.

Julian's Experience: Driving 20 Miles on Reserve

In her Facebook comment, Julian explained her unexpected test of the EV9’s reserve power. She wrote:
"So I did a little bit of a test. My charge was at 0%, and the vehicle went into limited power mode. I was able to drive 20 miles like this with no issues until I got to a supercharger. Hopefully, this helps anyone who might hit 0% and panic. It seems like this vehicle has a lot of power on reserve."

She later added that she was driving at 75 miles per hour on the highway in Orlando as you can see in the image accompanying this report.

Her experience highlights that even when the battery reaches 0%, the Kia EV9 has a buffer to provide drivers with enough range to safely reach a charging station.

This situation makes me thinking of something really interesting. Some car companies tell us we can charge their electric vehicles to 100% at home. Does this mean 100% isn't the full capacity of the actual battery?

"I wonder how many more miles he could of gone past 20. If you can go 60 miles before the battery runs out, then we are technically charging to 80% when we charge to 100%," writes a forum member Robert Rinkewich as a reply to Julian's post.

But you never want to do this to your car's battery. Another forum member, Russ Button, writes, "You donʻt EVER want to let your battery get that low. Never. Causes real stress. It can do it, but youʻre unnecessarily causing damage to the battery. For normal use, run it between 20 - 80%. Plug it back in when you get under 40% as a rule. If you operate your car in a way it was not intended, donʻt be surprised when the battery begins to lose range."

Some people say there’s always a reserve power in your electric vehicle, but it all depends on so many factors how long you can drive at 0%.

From what I understand based on my readings, technically 10% is usually available due to various reasons. However, you shouldn't do this too much to protect your battery and ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR CAR'S MANUFACTURER. Ask them first.

What Does "0%" Really Mean in EVs?

Like many EVs, the Kia EV9, which I reviewed a at Torque News a few months ago, appears to have a reserve system designed to prevent drivers from being stranded immediately after the dashboard displays 0% battery. Automakers often include this buffer to protect the battery from deep discharging, which can damage the cells. This safety margin ensures the vehicle can still function for a limited distance, albeit in a reduced performance mode like the "limited power mode" Julian mentioned.

Key Takeaways for Kia EV9 Owners

1. Power Reserve for Peace of Mind
   Julian's experience indicates the Kia EV9 offers approximately 20 miles of reserve range after the battery gauge shows 0%. This is invaluable in situations where you’re close to a charging station but unexpectedly run out of charge.
2. Limited Power Mode
   When in reserve, the EV9 restricts its performance to conserve energy. While acceleration and other functions may be reduced, this mode ensures you can still reach your destination safely.
3. Plan Charging Stops Ahead
   Despite this helpful reserve, EV owners are advised to avoid running the battery too low. Regularly deep-discharging an EV battery can accelerate its degradation over time.
4. EV Infrastructure is Expanding
   As more fast chargers like Tesla Superchargers and other networks become available, driving electric is becoming more convenient. Julian was able to locate and reach a supercharger easily, demonstrating how accessible charging has become in many areas.

Julian’s story isn’t unique to the Kia EV9. Many other EV models, including the Tesla Model Y, Model 3 with LFP battery, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, also include similar reserve power capabilities. This design feature underscores automakers’ commitment to alleviating range anxiety, a common concern among potential EV buyers.

However, the actual reserve distance can vary between vehicles and driving conditions. Factors such as temperature, driving habits, and battery health can impact how far you can go after hitting 0%.

Glimpse Into the Kia EV9’s Real-world Performance

Julian’s test offers a reassuring glimpse into the Kia EV9’s real-world performance under extreme conditions. For current and prospective EV9 owners, knowing that the vehicle has a reserve safety net can ease the worry of running out of charge.

Still, the best practice remains proactive: plan your charging stops in advance and aim to charge before the battery gets critically low. Julian’s experience demonstrates the Kia EV9’s robust design, showing why it’s quickly becoming a favorite in the growing electric SUV market.

Take a look at this video. They drove several cars until their batteries died, this might give you a little bit of an idea.

Have you ever tested your EV’s reserve range? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below!

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.