My Kia EV9 Takes 20 Minutes To Charge, But Older EVs are Hogging Public Chargers for 3 Hours Straight, I Can't Wait Until My Lease Ends And I Get a Plug-in Hybrid

Americans tolerate a lot: airport delays, drive-thru mix-ups, even the TSA rummaging through their toiletries. But sit them behind a slow-charging electric vehicle, and that’s when the rebellion begins. It’s not about the electrons, it’s about time. When Michael Torczon, a Kia EV9 owner, pulled into a fast-charging station only to see a Chevy Bolt drinking power at a measly 27 kW, he didn’t just lose patience. He went to the Kia EV9 Owner Group to share his thoughts on the matter:

A Disgruntled KIA EV9 Owner

“Car companies should be banned from making electric vehicles that charge at ridiculously slow speeds. My Kia EV9 is charging at 174 kW while a Toyota EV is at 52 kW and a Chevy Bolt at a whopping 27 kW. 😩 Meanwhile, people wait in line for others charging at such slow speeds for long periods of time,” 

Torczon  posted to the Kia EV9 Owners Group on Facebook, clearly fuming behind the wheel. And honestly? He’s not wrong. What was once a matter of personal patience has now become an infrastructure-level crisis. These charging stations, meant to enable freedom, are fast becoming parking lots for poorly engineered compliance cars.

How Fast Can The Kia EV9 Charge?

• Utilizing a 350 kW DC fast charger, the EV9 can charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 20 to 24 minutes, depending on the trim level. This rapid charging is facilitated by the vehicle's 800-volt architecture, allowing for high-speed energy transfer. ​
• When connected to a 240V Level 2 charger, the EV9's charging time from 10% to 100% varies by trim. For instance, the Light RWD trim requires about 6 hours and 45 minutes, while higher trims like the Light Long Range RWD may take approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes. 
• Using a standard household outlet, charging the EV9 from 10% to 100% can take over 64 hours. This method is considerably slower and is generally recommended only for emergency situations or when other charging options are unavailable.

You’d be forgiven for thinking Torczon just didn’t “do the research.” That was certainly the tone of commenter Scott Atkinson, who clapped back: 

“People buy what they want, and you buy what you want... It seems you didn’t realize that you would have to wait so long for a charging spot and then time to charge.” 

But Torczon wasn’t naive. He picked the EV9 because of its high-speed charging ability. What he didn’t predict, what most EV buyers don’t, is that a single, slow-charging vehicle can monopolize a 350 kW charger for the better part of an afternoon.

“Yes, I admit I did not factor into my decision that a Chevy Volt would be taking a high-speed DC charging spot for almost 2 1/2 hours.” 

Is It Entitlement? 

Torczon replied, in a moment of candor. This isn’t just about entitlement, it’s about ecosystem failure. DC fast chargers aren’t all equal, and neither are the vehicles plugged into them. Some, like Torczon’s EV9, with its 800V electrical architecture, can gulp electricity at superhighway speeds. Others, like the Bolt or the Toyota BZ4X, barely sip from the tap. And when those vehicles hog chargers, the result are long waiting times.

“In an educated market, the Bz4x couldn’t be sold.” 

Devon Gee chimed in. “It just couldn’t... It’s a zero-effort compliance product meant to get the government off their backs.”

What’s more American than a road trip, than spontaneous distance? And what kills that faster than spending two hours watching a Bolt inch toward 80 percent? It’s a kind of quiet tyranny, one that arrives wrapped in a federal tax credit and vague promises of a greener tomorrow.

Road Trips Are Americans Prefered Method of Travel 

• In 2024, road trips were the most favored form of travel, with 40% of Americans choosing this mode for their vacations. This trend is expected to continue into 2025 as travelers seek cost-effective and flexible alternatives to flying. ​
• The average American driver covers approximately 14,263 miles per year, equating to about 1,200 miles monthly. This substantial mileage underscores the reliance on personal vehicles for commuting, errands, and leisure activities. ​
• The primary motivation for taking road trips is to experience new landscapes and scenery, cited by 50% of travelers. This desire for exploration highlights the enduring allure of America's diverse terrains and iconic routes.

Worse still, the free charging incentives meant to sweeten the pot for new EV buyers are turning into a poison pill. As Marco Rodriguez observed, 

“I noticed that it’s only the cars that have a free 30-minute charge for the first 2 years, like Mercedes-Benz.” 

This sounds great until every charger becomes a lounge for freeloaders. Eric Whalen didn’t hold back: 

“The free fast charging is the worst thing. It's abused, and honestly, I don't understand waiting 20 or 30 minutes when you could just charge at home without a trip to a fast charger.” 

The Implementation Issue

The problem isn’t technology, it’s implementation. The hardware is here, the potential undeniable. But while Kia, Hyundai, and Porsche are shipping cars with next-gen charging capabilities, the infrastructure hasn’t caught up. Worse yet, too many vehicles on the road today are simply incompatible with the pace of modern travel. And while you could argue these are all growing pains, it doesn’t feel that way when you're stuck behind a compliance EV eating up a 350 kW charger like it’s a Sunday buffet.

In the end, Torczon did what a lot of early adopters are considering: he’s planning to jump ship. 

“I am glad I leased my EV9 for 2 years so I can turn it in and go back to a plug-in hybrid.”

 He wrote. 

“I admit I failed to do enough research on the real-world charging experience.” 

Not with the car itself, but with the supporting infrastructure. Until electric vehicles can offer the refueling experience Americans have grown accustomed to over the last hundred years, rapid, reliable, and available everywhere, range anxiety will continue to be the primary obstacle preventing widespread EV adoption.

Should Slow-Charging Cars Be Banned? 

So, maybe the solution isn’t banning slow-charging cars, as Torczon initially suggested. Maybe it’s about segmenting fast chargers for fast cars, holding manufacturers to a higher baseline, and ending the silent sabotage of the public charging network. Because in a country where everything moves at the speed of now, 27 kW just doesn’t cut it.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.