Falling in love with an idea automobile is setting your self as much as fail. The overwhelming majority of them by no means grow to be actual autos, and people who do usually find yourself disappointingly removed from their putting authentic 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 someway grow to be 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 superb film, guide or album, the truth that I am nonetheless fascinated 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 Car program: a household of modular electrical work autos in numerous sizes and configurations. Kia has huge plans for that program because it expands into the industrial automobile house; a few of the concepts there are fairly wild, together with remodeling physique sorts, autonomous driving and probably 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 automobile house.
By comparability, the PV5 WKNDR is sort of standard. Nevertheless it exhibits how nicely 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 large off-road tires, however as a result of the entire inside has been custom-made to be a sort 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 would like to see it get utilized to some precise manufacturing automobiles. In truth, this entire idea makes a robust 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 complete houses. For those who apply that concept to an even bigger automobile (with an even bigger battery) you’ll be able to allow a ton of zero-emission energy if you go tenting. I feel Kia’s onto one thing with this idea, and I hope the automaker finds some technique 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.
13
Contact the creator: [email protected]
