Kia is doing something interesting with the PV5. It’s not just another electric van trying to fit into the crowd, it’s built differently from the ground up. The company just started production, and the van looks ready to shake up the light commercial market.
Instead of simply stuffing batteries into an old van chassis, Kia created a fresh electric platform called E-GMP.S. The PV5 can turn into a cargo hauler, a comfy passenger shuttle, a wheelchair-accessible ride, even a small camper if you like the open road.
“The Kia PV5 is an industry-transforming modular, flexible and conversion-ready solution that adapts to the needs of modern businesses and modern lifestyles,” said Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of PBV Business Division at Kia Corporation.
The Van features a front-mounted electric motor that makes 120kW of power and 250Nm of torque. You can pick between two battery sizes: 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh. Kia says the big one gives you up to 415 kilometers before it needs a charge. Just remember, every extra 100 kilos of stuff you pack cuts range by about 1.5 percent.
The PV5 can charge at a speed of up to 150kW on a DC fast charger, going from 10 to 80 percent in roughly half an hour. AC charging at 22kW is expected to be introduced in the future. The port’s up front, so you can plug in without messing with your cargo space.
The cargo version gives you between 4.0 and 5.2 cubic metres of space depending on layout. The rear step is just 419mm high. The passenger model is all about flexibility, five seats and 3,615 litres of luggage room once you fold them down. The side step height sits at 399mm, low enough for easy entry.
“Our engineers tuned the suspension around real-world use cases. Whether the vehicle is empty or carrying a full payload, drivers and passengers can count on a balanced, comfortable experience,” says Sjoerd Knipping, COO at Kia Europe.
The PV5 packs forward collision avoidance, navigation-based cruise control and lane following assist. Underneath, it’s reinforced with high-strength steel and 180mm of ground clearance to keep the battery safe from curb strikes or the odd gravel road.
Inside, it’s all screens and software. The 12.9-inch display runs Android Automotive OS, which means no extra phone mount cluttering your dash. It connects to Kia’s Pleos Fleet management system, feeding back data on everything; battery health, driving style and maintenance alerts. For fleet operators, that’s gold. They can even plug it into their own systems using the Push Data API.
You get a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty on the vehicle, plus eight years or 100,000 miles for the battery and motor. Production has already kicked off at Kia’s Hwaseong plant in Korea, focusing first on the passenger and long cargo versions.
The PV5 feels like a glimpse of what vans should have been all along, modular, electric and a bit smarter about space. For delivery drivers, small business owners or even adventurous families, it might be the EV that actually fits real life.