I Just Discovered That Kia Vehicles Can Now Charge on Tesla Superchargers, and Here Is The App You Need and What To Know About Ports and Adapters

Kia announced today that owners of its EVs now have access to more than 21,500 DC chargers within the Tesla Supercharger network. With over 22,000 DC chargers from other brands already in operation,  Kia EV owners can now charge at over 40,000 DC chargers. For those who charge in public, this will help to increase convenience and reduce range anxiety. 

Here's how other non-Tesla owners have benefited from the Supercharger network. 

Which Kia EVs Will Work? Kia EV customers who own newer Kia EVs with the standard NACS port (Tesla's style of port) are good to go. Those with CCS ports on their vehicles can now access the Tesla Supercharger network using an adapter.

Do I Need A Special App? Yes. Before you head out to try the network, we strongly suggest that you download the Kia Access, Kia Charge Pass app., Plugshare, and Tesla’s Supercharger app. As with nearly every modern EV, Kia customers can find and navigate to available charging stations simply by using their EV infotainment screen or their compatible smartphone devices. There, one can find charger availability and pricing. Enroll in the charging program before you go. 

This is our list of EV apps we use for DC charging and charging in public. 

"Kia is committed to an exceptional ownership experience, and expanding the network of available DC fast chargers to our EV customers is an important component to maintaining the brand’s leadership in electrified mobility,” said Seungkyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO, Kia North America and Kia America. “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."

Kia offered this statement regarding the spreading anti-Tesla vandalism, violence, and protests: “Kia America condemns the recent attacks that disrupt the availability of convenient and affordable charging for our customers.”

Do I Need an Adapter For My Kia To Use the Supercharger Network?  Customers who purchased a 2024 or 2025 EV6 or EV9 are eligible to receive a free NACS adapter. Kia has been notifying these owners through the Kia Access app. Owners of earlier models (including one we really love, the Niro EV) can purchase an adapter through Kia dealers. 

New 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 models are coming with the Tesla-style NACS port as standard hardware on the vehicle. 

By adding the Tesla Supercharger network to its available options, Kia has now expanded the availability of DC charging dramatically.

If you’ve charged a Kia using the Supercharger network, please tell us in the comments below how it went.

Could you offer any best practices for your fellow owners?

 

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools. 

Image of a 2025 Kia EV charging up at a Tesla Supercharger courtesy of Kia media support.