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 develop into actual autos, and people who do typically find yourself disappointingly removed from their placing 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 imagine Kia’s PV5 WKNDR electrical van idea might in some way develop into a actuality. 

The PV5 WKNDR made its first look at SEMA, the enormous aftermarket and efficiency commerce present, earlier this month. However I acquired to see it for myself final week on the LA Auto Present. And like a very good film, e book or album, the truth that I am nonetheless eager about it a number of days later tells me loads. 

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 large plans for that program because it expands into the industrial car house; 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 needs in on the nascent electrified supply van and industrial car house.

By comparability, the PV5 WKNDR is nearly standard. But it surely reveals how effectively this platform might exist when repurposed for a shopper 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 large off-road tires, however as a result of the entire inside has been personalized to be a sort of cell dwelling house: 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 exhibit 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 would like to see it get utilized to some precise manufacturing vehicles. Actually, this entire idea makes a powerful case for an electrical off-road machine: when EVs are stationary, they’ll present large quantities of electrical energy to energy campsites, units and even whole houses. In the event you apply that concept to an even bigger car (with an even bigger battery) you’ll be able to allow a ton of zero-emission energy once you go tenting. I believe 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 tip of this month, go pay this factor a go to. I believe you will get a kick out of it.

13

Contact the creator: [email protected]