I Need To Go Off-Grid In Kia’s PV5 WKNDR Electrical Van

Falling in love with an idea automotive is setting your self as much as fail. The overwhelming majority of them by no means change into actual autos, and those who do typically find yourself disappointingly removed from their putting unique designs. For each BMW i8, we additionally get about 50 Pontiac Azteks. However love is not a rational factor, and that is why I wish to imagine Kia’s PV5 WKNDR electrical van idea might someway change into a actuality. 

The PV5 WKNDR made its first look at SEMA, the enormous aftermarket and efficiency commerce present, earlier this month. However I bought to see it for myself final week on the LA Auto Present. And like film, e-book or album, the truth that I am nonetheless fascinated with it just a few days later tells me lots. 

Picture by: Kia

The EV9 ADVNTR EV SUV and PV5 WKNDR EV Van

The idea is a #vanlife tackle Kia’s new Platform Past Automobile program: a household of modular electrical work autos in several sizes and configurations. Kia has huge plans for that program because it expands into the business car area; a few of the concepts there are fairly wild, together with remodeling physique varieties, autonomous driving and presumably even crab-walking wheels to ship cargo to tight areas. We do not know the way far Kia will go together with these applied sciences but, however the Korean automaker clearly desires in on the nascent electrified supply van and business car area.

By comparability, the PV5 WKNDR is sort of typical. But it surely reveals how properly this platform might exist when repurposed for a client van aimed toward off-road and off-grid adventuring. Kia describes it as “an escape pod for prolonged weekends in nature” and “a Swiss Military Knife on wheels.” That is not solely due to the massive off-road tires, however as a result of the entire inside has been custom-made to be a form of cell dwelling area: the idea comes full with lounge seats, tenting chairs, tables, an extending rooftop tent and extra. And also you get towing hooks entrance and rear if different autos go sideways, or upside-down, on this case. 

Picture by: Kia

The EV9 ADVNTR EV SUV and PV5 WKNDR EV Van

Whereas I did not get to see Kia display this on-site on the auto present, the van additionally options photo voltaic panels for offboard charging and “hydro turbine wheels” that generate electrical energy whereas spinning. That is a intelligent concept and I might like to see it get utilized to some precise manufacturing vehicles. Actually, this entire idea makes a robust case for an electrical off-road machine: when EVs are stationary, they will present large quantities of electrical energy to energy campsites, units and even complete properties. Should you apply that concept to a much bigger car (with a much bigger battery) you may allow a ton of zero-emission energy once you go tenting. I feel Kia’s onto one thing with this idea, and I hope the automaker finds some option to make it a actuality. 

If you end up on the LA Auto Present’s public days till the top of this month, go pay this factor a go to. I feel you will get a kick out of it.

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