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

Falling in love with an idea automobile is setting your self as much as fail. The overwhelming majority of them by no means change into actual automobiles, and those who do typically find yourself disappointingly removed from their hanging 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 need to consider Kia’s PV5 WKNDR electrical van idea might one way or the other 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 received 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 interested by it a couple of days later tells me so much. 

Photograph by: Kia

The EV9 ADVNTR EV SUV and PV5 WKNDR EV Van

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

By comparability, the PV5 WKNDR is nearly typical. Nevertheless it exhibits how nicely this platform might exist when repurposed for a shopper van geared 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 automobiles go sideways, or upside-down, on this case. 

Photograph 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 thought and I would like to see it get utilized to some precise manufacturing automobiles. In truth, this entire idea makes a powerful 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 whole houses. In case you apply that concept to a much bigger car (with a much bigger battery) you’ll be able to allow a ton of zero-emission energy while you go tenting. I feel Kia’s onto one thing with this idea, and I hope the automaker finds some strategy 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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