Kia targets private hire sector with new van-based PV5 people-mover

Kia has shown its new PV5 Cargo electric van at the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC. And the van version will be followed later this year by a passenger version aimed at the private hire sector, with a starting price of £32,995. The van version is priced from £27,645 (ex-VAT) and qualifies for the maximum OZEV grant of £5,000.

The PV5 range forms part of a new Kia light commercial range, with larger vans to follow. It sees Kia return to the light van market for the first time in 30 years – a van version of the Kia Pride hatchback was briefly sold in the early 1990s.

The mid-sized PV5 is the first model of Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) global business strategy. Kia will offer the PV5 in several configurations. As well as the Passenger Van and the Cargo Van versions, specialist converted variants will be part of the range. All Kia PBV models, including the PV5, will be built on the brand’s E dedicated battery-electric “skateboard” architecture that allows for flexible combinations of various vehicle bodies.

The PV5 range will include a wheelchair-accessible version, as well as conversion models including crew cab, drop side, box van and freezer box. There is also an up-market passenger version called Prime as well as a camper van.

The passenger PV5 also features sliding side doors on both sides and a single lift-up tailgate, whereas the Cargo Van has twin side-opening doors.

The PV5 uses a front-drive electric motor producing up to 120kW and 250Nm of torque. There is a choice of choice of 51.5kWh or 71.2kWh battery – the larger battery gives a range of 249 miles and a fast-charging time from 10% to 80% of 30 minutes.