Falling in love with an idea automobile is setting your self as much as fail. The overwhelming majority of them by no means develop 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 develop into a actuality.
The PV5 WKNDR made its first look at SEMA, the large aftermarket and efficiency commerce present, earlier this month. However I obtained to see it for myself final week on the LA Auto Present. And like film, ebook or album, the truth that I am nonetheless interested by it a number of 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 Car 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 automobile house; among the concepts there are fairly wild, together with reworking physique varieties, 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 business automobile house.
By comparability, the PV5 WKNDR is sort of typical. But it surely reveals how properly 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 cellular 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 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 might like to see it get utilized to some precise manufacturing automobiles. 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, gadgets and even total houses. If you happen to apply that concept to an even bigger automobile (with an even bigger battery) you may allow a ton of zero-emission energy while you go tenting. I believe Kia’s onto one thing with this idea, and I hope the automaker finds some solution 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 may get a kick out of it.
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