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Kia’s Platform Past Car idea: is it a van, a truck or an RV? It seems the reply is “the entire above.” The idea that stole our hearts at CES 2024 this week represents Kia’s entry into the industrial car world, besides with electrical energy, software-driven fleet administration, a excessive diploma of customization and a modular, reworking physique that permits one chassis to go well with many wants.
There was only one drawback: how the “reworking” half labored precisely felt a bit unclear. Happily, Kia confirmed off precisely how this works at its CES stand by demonstrating the thought with a transferring miniature set. Now, you’ll be able to see simply what the Korean automaker is as much as right here.
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Kia’s PV5 goals to reinvent supply automobiles
With out the constraints of getting to place an inside combustion engine someplace, automobile designers are, in idea, free to strive way more experimental designs. The EV nature of Kia’s industrial car permits it to grow to be many various kinds of vans or vans relying on the duty at hand.
On this video, you’ll be able to see how the entrance half—the “driver zone”— on this supply van separates out from the interchangeable rear part known as a “life module.” A system of hydraulic lifts and rails strikes the life module backward, swapping it out with a pickup truck mattress. The rear wheels keep in place, as does the skateboard-like chassis that appears to deal with a battery module. On the finish, the truck mattress is secured into place, and the Kia PV5 is presumably free to scoot off and haul issues.Â
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This nearly goes with out saying, however it’s very unclear whether or not this miniature setup represents the precise modular body-swapping system a Kia PV5 may use—if it even goes to manufacturing with that setup, which alone can be a serious coup. Automakers have flirted with modular automobiles for a lot of many years, however their manufacturing feasibility has remained elusive.Â
However it’s nonetheless a really intelligent concept, unlocked by its EV structure. This is able to be little doubt trickier if an inside combustion engine and driveline have been concerned. Will it grow to be a actuality within the kind we see right here? We’ll discover out in 2025 when the PV5 makes its debut with an particularly tantalizing $35,000 goal worth.Â
Contact the creator: patrick.george@insideevs.com
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