• Kia introduced the PV5 WKNDR electric van, a wild off-road concept, at the 2024 SEMA show in Las Vegas.
• Its all-terrain tires are wrapped around rims that spin freely and can generate electricity using wind or water.
• The PV5 WKNDR is highly modular, with seats that transform into movable coffee tables and chairs.

Off-road vehicles may not be Kia’s strong suit, but the Korean auto giant is now showing its intention to move into this area. Sure, the Sportage and Telluride can take on gentle trails, but with the PV5 WKNDR electric van, Kia shows us just how versatile a battery-powered electric van can be.

Kia recently revealed its futuristic electric vans called PV5 and PV7 in Europe. They are part of what Kia calls a “Platform beyond the vehicle” approach. These are the automaker’s versions of a Ford E-Transit or the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo— but more connected, more futuristic, more modular and of course entirely electric.

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At the ongoing SEMA show in Las Vegas, Kia delighted visitors with an off-road concept based on the PV5 electric van. It’s called the PV5 WKNDR. And according to some early preview videos from the show, it looks like the PV5 WKNDR might just be the coolest go-anywhere electric van concept we’ve seen.

According to a video from the YouTube channel TFLnowthe PV5 Wkndr looks like it can take you to the end of the trails. Once there, it could be your living room, workstation, bedroom, kitchen or simply a space to hang out with friends or family and enjoy the view.

What makes it unique are the little details. Up front, for example, it has a winch with a digital display mounted just above that shows how much weight the cables are pulling in real time. When it is not a winch, this display can be a message board or a digital license plate.

A Kia designer also explained the functionality of the unique wheels in the video above.

The “hydroturbine” wheels move independently of the all-terrain tires and can generate electricity. No, it’s not brake regeneration. It’s something completely different. Let’s say you’re camping and there’s a gust of wind. The wheels will spin and harness this energy to recharge the battery, generating energy using the forces of nature while stationary. It also has a large solar roof.

Inside, it feels much roomier than its exterior dimensions indicate. Think of it as a living room with several movable pieces of furniture that you can reposition as you see fit, depending on the occasion, but with next-level modularity. The passenger seat can be folded into a coffee table, which can then be moved rearward.

It has several bench seats neatly nestled into the walls of the van. When retracted, they can serve as modular stands for a variety of media. When you take them out, there is a place to sit. When the passenger seat doubles as a coffee table, the modular rear seats can take its place and even transform into a rear-facing lounge chair.

Photo by: InsideEVs

There is also a large retractable platform for placing a refrigerator or trash can. The platform has an extension for a small kitchen—similar to the Rivian travel kitchen. And finally, there is also a retractable rear window and a roof-mounted camper where you can spend the night.

Of course, automakers can go wild with concepts and that’s what Kia did here. But it also shows the extent of the possibilities of an electrical architecture. With fewer moving parts underneath, you can get creative inside, maximize interior space, and turn electric vans into multipurpose vehicles: delivery vans, campers, off-roaders, or even a power generator. stationary energy in this case.

We don’t know if this one will ever make it to production, but I hope it does, because it will truly take van life to the next level. However, it is worth noting that the PV5 electric van will enter production in South Korea next year and that one of them is probably heading to the United States in 2026. However, these plans could change depending on how electric vehicle policy and pricing evolves next year under the new administration.

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