Kia’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap Unveils New Details on EV2 and PV5
Kia is accelerating its electrification plans, and recent announcements have provided more details on the upcoming EV2 and PV5 electric van.
More About the Kia EV2
The EV2 will be Kia’s compact and most affordable EV. This new B-segment crossover is designed to make electric vehicles more accessible to a wider audience. Expected to be priced around €30,000 (approximately $31,400/AU$49,400), the EV2 is slated for sales in South Korea and Europe starting next year. The EV2 show car reveals a chunky crossover exterior design, which is complemented by a striking interior.
Kia’s head of design, Karim Habib, described the interior as a “picnic in the city” theme, with sliding front seats that allow for either stretching out in the front or reconfiguring the rear seats for flexible cargo space. The rear seats also slide and flip up, providing occupants with a cavernous chill-out zone.
While some design elements from the concept, such as the extensive front seat sliding rail and “suicide doors,” will likely be modified for production due to cost and weight concerns, Habib indicated that Kia aims to incorporate these features in the future.
Built on the E-GMP platform and utilizing a 400V electrical architecture, the EV2 will have a 10-80% charging time of around 30 minutes. It will also be among the first Kia products to feature a new Lithium-ion Phosphate (LFP) battery pack. The exact battery range is yet to be announced, but it is expected to have similar 43.3kWh and 51.5kWh variants seen in the PBV van line-up.
The Kia PV5 Electric Van
In addition to the EV2, Kia is expanding the range of its commercial vehicles with the PV5 electric van planned for this year. This model is primarily aimed at the commercial vehicle markets in Europe, Canada, and Korea. With Cargo, Crew, and Chassis Cab options available, the platform has been created to be as modular as possible. Options range from a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to a freezer box van.
Designed to meet diverse needs from commercial to consumer, it will also be available in a Passenger variant offering three-row seating for up to seven passengers. The seats can easily be configured to accommodate larger lifestyle cargo. A “Light Camper” variant will be available with a more advanced campervan conversion that will offer folding beds, kitchens, and other camping amenities.
Kia is also introducing “Add Gear” accessories. These include cup holders, coat hooks, trash bins, and cool boxes that either clip or slide onto the rails within the cabin, allowing buyers to customize the PV5 internal layout to suit their individual needs.
The PV5 will use an Android Automotive-based infotainment system instead of Kia’s traditional passenger car infotainment system. This allows for third-party applications to be easily integrated. This includes applications such as Samsung’s IoT Pro, aiding small businesses and fleet managers to operate more efficiently.
The PV5 has an electric range of up to 250 miles and can fast charge in 30 minutes. With a starting price of €35,000 (about $36,600 / AU$58,00), Kia projects that it can successfully enter this market.
