Knowing the State of Health (SOH) of your Kia’s battery is crucial for its longevity and performance. While dealer visits are necessary, some may dismiss readings not obtained from the KIA Diagnostic Unit (KDU). They might attempt to improve the Guess-o-Meter (GoM) with BMS updates, which can temporarily inflate SOH readings. Here’s how to ensure accurate assessment using an Ev Car Scanner, specifically focusing on procedures applicable to Kia vehicles.
Dealers sometimes apply BMS updates, either believing they enhance the GoM or knowing it resets the BMS to default values, requiring several drive cycles for valid data. This can falsely indicate an SOH above 70%, masking potential battery degradation. To counteract this, bring a copy of PS 548 (https://www.tsbsearch.com/Kia/PS548) to your appointment. Request the dealer adheres strictly to the procedure outlined in the document. Emphasize the importance of reading BMS data before applying any updates, highlighting the specific text that details this crucial step. Explain your understanding that premature updates can skew the SOH reading. A reading below 70% should trigger a dealer report to KIA Corporate, potentially leading to battery replacement.
Alternatively, you can calculate the SOH yourself using data readily available through the car’s system and considered akin to data obtained from a basic EV car scanner. After a full charge, reset the miles/kWh reading (it displays “–” when reset). Record the mileage and battery percentage (if not 100%). At the next charge, note the mileage and battery percentage before plugging in, and record the miles/kWh. Calculate the difference in mileage and divide it by the miles/kWh to determine kWh consumed. Divide this result by the difference in battery percentages expressed as a decimal (e.g., a 10% difference is 0.10). This provides the usable kWh capacity at 100% charge. Divide this capacity by your battery’s nominal capacity (27, 30, 39.2, 64 kWh, etc., depending on your Kia model) and multiply by 100 to obtain the SOH. This method provides results comparable to professional-grade EV car scanner data. Being proactive about your Kia’s battery health empowers you to address potential issues early on. Ensuring accurate SOH readings, whether through a dealer using the KDU or your own calculations, is essential for informed decisions about your EV’s maintenance and longevity.
