Kia has given European audiences a first look at its electric PBV — or van to you and me — future during the 2024 IAA Transportation show in Hannover. Though still in concept form, these Platform Beyond Vehicle models, led by the PV5 and larger PV7, offer a clear picture of Kia’s ambition in the light commercial vehicle space.
It’s all part of Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy, which focuses on the manufacturer’s expansion of electric vehicles and innovative mobility solutions. At the IAA show, alongside more details on the PBVs, Kia also announced new partnerships and technical achievements in charging, fleet management, and vehicle customisation to bolster the appeal of the new models.
“In order to disrupt the LCV market, an all-in approach is needed to maximise the benefits of a dedicated platform for a wide range of customers,” said Marc Hedrich, president of Kia in Europe. “While this approach is not a first for electric passenger cars, it’s certainly the first time we see it for LCV. This is a benchmark moment, and our PBVs are set to deliver better accessibility, higher volumes, and lower running costs, to completely change logistics and mobility.”
Versatile Lineup
Kia’s PBV lineup is designed around modularity and adaptability, with customers able to customise the vehicle to meet their operational needs. The new battery electric vehicle platform, developed specifically for LCVs, is at the heart of this. Supporting a wide range of sizes and configurations makes it possible for businesses to choose vehicles that best suit their needs, whether transporting goods or moving people.
The PV5 and PV7 concepts showcased at the event demonstrate this flexibility. Each features different interior and exterior configurations, including high roofs, spacious cargo areas, and adaptable seating arrangements, making them suitable for uses from urban deliveries to mobile workstations.
Kia also promises top-tier performance for commercial users; the platform delivers exceptional handling, power, and acceleration for city and highway driving. A best-in-class turning circle and easy low-speed control are key parts of the range, and are key priorities for urban delivery fleets.
Charging and Fleet Management Solutions
Kia has detailed its approach to vehicle charging, with PBV owners having access to the Kia Charge network, which spans 780,000 charging points across 28 European countries. Users will also be able to plug into the Ionity network of ultra-fast chargers, enabling them to top up from 10% to 80% charge in under 30 minutes. This is all complemented by the introduction of Kia’s Plug & Charge system, which simplifies the charging process by initiating payment automatically when the vehicle is connected to a charger.
Outside of rapid charging, the PBVs will also support 22kW AC charging, making it easy for businesses to support depot charging and improving overall flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Each PBV will also feature vehicle-to-load capability, turning vehicles into mobile power units. Plugging into an adaptor ultimately connected to the main drive battery, the PBV will be able to power devices, tools, and other equipment.
Looking to the future, Kia plans to introduce vehicle-to-grid capability, allowing vehicles to send electricity back to the grid during peak usage periods, thereby reducing operational costs for businesses and contributing to energy sustainability.
Tech-Driven Fleet Management Partnership
With connectivity now expected in modern fleet vehicles, Kia is leaning heavily into data-led support for operators. It’s partnered with Geotab to create tools like route optimisation, safe driving rewards, and predictive maintenance, all aimed at reducing downtime and boosting performance.
Each PBV will be fully connected, offering intelligent routing, real-time data for fleet management, and over-the-air software updates, helping operators monitor driving habits and vehicle health for more efficient fleet management.
“We are partnering with Geotab because we share a commitment to providing best-in-class fleet management solutions,” said Pierre-Martin Bos, PBV director at Kia Europe
. “Together we are focused on providing fleet operators with advanced technology and rich data insights required to optimise operations and improve driver safety.”
Partnerships and Customisation
Kia is forging alliances with major companies to ensure its PBVs can cater to specific business needs, announcing a collaboration with Petit Forestier Group at the IAA show. This partnership will focus on developing refrigerated versions of the PBVs, increasing the vehicle’s appeal to food delivery and medical transport sectors. Petit Forestier brings over 100 years of expertise in the cold chain, ensuring that Kia’s vehicles will be optimised for transporting temperature-sensitive goods.
Further partnerships include companies like Uber, Coupang, and Kakao Mobility, which will utilise PBVs for ride-hailing and delivery services. Kia is also working with Dubai Taxi Corporation, showing that PBVs could also play a role in the future of urban mobility in densely populated areas.
“Our focus is on customer needs, to provide a solution for each use case, ensure business continuity and optimise vehicle uptime,” added Pierre-Martin Bos. “We reinforce our brand promise with a dedicated PBV network ready to service our vehicles with specific customer-oriented standards, on top of the more than 2600 actual Kia dealers in Europe, together with predictive maintenance through our OTA capabilities, we are determined to deliver the most holistic and innovative mobility experience to all our customers, in business and private use.”
Kia PBV UK Availability
Kia’s PBVs aren’t on UK roads yet, but with production due in 2025 and sales expected from 2026, they could shake up the electric van market. As with all Kia models, the brand’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty will cover each new PBV.
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