De Lijn, the Flemish government company that operates approximately 1,000 public bus and tram lines in Flanders, has awarded a framework agreement for 100 vehicles to Spanish bus builder Irizar e-Mobility, the EV manufacturing division of Irizar Group.
Under the agreement, De Lijn has the additional option to order HOV e-buses, which are used on longer routes; they are larger and more spacious, with enhanced passenger comfort and amenities.
“E-buses for HOV differ from regular e-buses by a more streamlined exterior and high-quality interior design,” said Ann Schoubs, Director General of De Lijn. “With Irizar, we have an additional supplier who has a strong reputation in the e-bus market for this higher segment.”
The argument in favor of building new data centers closer to locations primed for low-cost solar and wind power development is becoming more appealing, Kimber said. The same goes for as-yet-nascent industries such as green hydrogen and direct air capture, which will require enormous amounts of carbon-free energy to serve their goals of replacing fossil fuels and sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, respectively.
Already, some data center operators are striking deals to secure power directly from nuclear power plants, and a titanium plant being built in West Virginia is building on-site solar and batteries to power the majority of its electricity needs.
“Data centers, hydrogen, direct air capture — these will not be loads that will plug into the grid,” he said.
The new dynamics for grid-connected solar and batteries
That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of need for cheap, clean, and reliable renewable electricity on the grid today, he said. But it’s likely that the standard method of financing grid-connected projects — long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with utilities or corporate energy buyers — will need to change to enable the next wave of clean energy development.
Solar and wind power developers are struggling with the consequences of their success in driving down the cost of the electricity they produce, Kimber argues. They’re being forced to compete against each other to offer lower and lower prices to buyers, whether those are utilities required to secure a certain percentage of carbon-free or renewable power under state mandates or, increasingly, corporations seeking to meet voluntary carbon-cutting and clean energy goals.
To break free of this dynamic of ever-lower prices, Intersect aims to build grid-connected projects that can secure at least a portion of their revenues by selling power at higher prices in open energy markets — so-called “merchant” generation projects. That’s a riskier prospect than signing long-term contracts with a guaranteed buyer, and that heightened risk raises the cost of the capital needed to finance the construction of such projects, Kimber told Canary Media in a 2022 interview. But with the higher risk also comes the potential for higher reward.
This model is particularly important for grid batteries, he said. Power grids with lots of renewable energy — like those in California and Texas — often have more clean power than they need when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. Batteries can store that power for use when the sun goes down or the wind falters but electricity demand remains high. Clean electrons will generally fetch a much higher price during these times than they will at the moment they’re generated.
But today, energy markets and utility regulatory constructs don’t fully value that time-shifting capability of batteries, he said. Instead, most of the early deployments of batteries focus on supplying high-value “ancillary services” — specialty grid services markets that are vital to keeping power grids up and running, but ultimately represent only a limited financial opportunity.
“The biggest issues we have on battery storage right now is that it’s clearly needed, but the markets value it in different ways, depending on what market you’re in,” he said.
Take California as an example. Like most of the country, it requires utilities to secure a certain amount of energy capacity to make up for grid shortfalls during times of extreme demand. In California, that class of grid resource is known as resource adequacy, or RA for short, and it can earn battery project developers significant revenues — if they can secure the grid interconnection and “deliverability” rights that guarantee their power will be able to serve the grid when it’s needed.
“That process is limited by the buildout of the grid,” Kimber said. “California is short RA because it’s short power lines.” California’s grid operator CAISO has approved major grid expansion plans, but those projects will take years — possibly up to a decade — to be built.
Texas, by contrast, operates an “energy-only” market that relies on allowing electricity market prices to spike to far higher levels to incentivize developers to build projects to meet those needs. Texas grid operator ERCOT also allows new projects to interconnect to its transmission grids in a far simpler process than that used in other parts of the country, which has helped speed the pace of clean energy and battery growth in the state.
“In the markets where capacity payments or ancillary services are not the things financing batteries, you have to finance increasingly on peak-to-trough energy arbitrage,” Kimber explained. “Uncontracted volatility is what you’re making your money on. That ends up needing different financing tools.”
The Austin, Texas-based electric bike maker MOD Bikes has just announced the launch of its latest model, the new MOD Berlin e-bike. It may be a commuter-class electric bike, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t come ready to compete.
Sticking with the “everything is bigger in Texas” adage, all of MOD’s electric bikes share a number of key high-performance features, such as a powerful motor, high speeds, and the ability to add a second battery for double the range.
In the case of the new MOD Berlin, the bike sports a 750W hub motor and can reach a maximum speed of 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist, maxing out the legally allowable performance specs while staying within Class 3 e-bike regulations (at least, when riders can maintain enough self-discipline to keep the thumb throttle disengaged).
The inclusion of five programmable pedal assist levels and a torque sensor for more responsive and intuitive-feeling pedaling up to 28 mph is the carrot that many people will need to make more use of the pedal-powered aspect of the bike, though throttle riders will still be able to hit speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h), the highest allowable by Class 2 e-bikes.
The battery is a 615Wh unit rated at 48V and 12.8Ah, claiming a maximum of 45 miles (72 km) of range on pedal assist. With the ability to mount a second battery, riders can score up to 90 miles (145 km) of range.
On the mechanical side, the 58 lb (26 kg) electric bike features an aluminum frame with a step-through design and large diameter 29″ wheels.
While the high power and fast speeds are definitely at home in Texas, the large wheel diameters and European geometry certainly feel closer to that Berlin moniker. The bike may look like a fully rigid model at first, but the fork’s stem actually hides away 40 mm of suspension travel.
The included adjustable stem, rear rack, fenders, and LED lighting system add to the commuter appeal of the bike, as does the 7-speed Shimano drivetrain.
For added commuter safety, the bike’s turn signals integrate with the optional Lumos helmet, wirelessly beaming those turn signal inputs up to the helmet’s built-in lighting for highly visible indicators.
Hydraulic disc brakes on 180mm rotors round out the commuter package, providing low maintenance stoppers, at least compared to cable-actuated mechanical disc brakes.
Now launching for pre-order, the MOD Berlin currently carries a promotional price of US $2,199, marked down by $300 from its MSRP.
The bike is available in both brushed aluminum and a charcoal black color.
We had the chance to visit MOD in Austin earlier this year, checking out many of the company’s new models and trying out that innovative Lumos wireless helmet pairing firsthand.
We also got a sneak peek at MOD’s unique design for public e-bike charging pedestals that the company is using to work with various partners in order to run pilot programs.
Electrek’s Take
The more time I spend in Europe, the more I learn to love Dutch style, large diameter wheel, commuter-focused electric bikes. While this isn’t a classic Dutch bike, it’s got a lot of what makes those models so comfortable to use. They’re easy to mount and dismount, they roll over bumps and cracks more easily, and the big wheels keep the momentum moving.
On the other hand, you can pry my Class 3 e-bikes out of my cold, dead, riding gloved hands. So having a comfortable, upright commuter e-bike that can easily hit 28 mph and comes with a torque sensor is a great combination of power and features.
Having tried many of MOD’s models and spent a few days at their headquarters, I can tell you that the bikes are legit. They cost a bit more than other direct-to-consumer models, but the company definitely backs up its solid designs with friendly bike-shop vibes, so it’s nice to know you’ve got a local US-based company standing behind the product.
In fact, check out my riding video on the MOD Cargo below to get a sense of what the company offers.
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Electric vehicles cruise quietly and cleanly down streets, unencumbered by a rumbling and dirty gas engine. But while they lack the tailpipe emissions of gas-powered cars, EVs do pollute from another source: their tires.
EVs are heavier than conventional cars due to their batteries. That added weight, plus their ability to accelerate faster than most internal combustion vehicles, means EVs wear tires out quickly. As tires break down, they spew tiny rubber particles into the air — so small that they can be inhaled and enter the bloodstream. Car tire bits are estimated to make up 78 percent of microplastics in oceans, where they’ve been shown to kill aquatic life.
In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, EVs are unequivocally better for the planet than conventional cars. But their higher rate of tire pollution is a side effect that needs to be addressed: 6 million tons of tire particles are released into the atmosphere every single year, and rising EV adoption stands to make matters worse, not better. In one comparison between the fully electric Tesla Model Y and the hybrid Kia Niro, tire particle emissions from the heavier Tesla were 26 percent higher.
To try and solve that problem, U.K. startup ENSO Tyres has been developing tires designed for EVs that it says can slash particulate emissions by lasting longer than competing products. Late last month, the company, which was a finalist for the Earthshot Prize in 2023, announced it had signed a letter of interest with the U.S. Export-Import Bank to build a $500 million factory in the U.S., set to open in 2027. The company hasn’t selected a location yet but named Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Georgia as potential options, and said it is exploring how it can use Inflation Reduction Act tax credits to finance the project.
During its first year, the plant aims to produce 5 million tires, said Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO of ENSO. Erlendsson plans to “very quickly” expand operations to make 20 million tires per year — an amount equivalent to around 6 percent of total U.S. tire consumption — though he declined to share a timeline for that target. The company, which is backed by the U.K. government, said that 1,000 London taxis are equipped with its tires. It also currently sells to owners of electric delivery vans.
The secret to creating higher-quality tires that take longer to wear down is not one Erlendsson was willing to reveal. But beyond using higher-grade, longer-lasting materials, ENSO tires are also made to have lower rolling resistance; when a car starts moving, the tires don’t hold a vehicle back as much, reducing friction and causing less wear.
These improvements could have a significant impact on EV tire emissions. According to a 2023 trial conducted over 15 months by ENSO and Transport for London, the government body that oversees transit in the city, in one instance ENSO’s tires reduced particulate emissions 35 percent compared to a standard premium tire. Its tires also increased driving range by about 10 percent during the trial.
The company also aims to address emissions from tire production itself. It plans for the U.S. facility to run on “100 percent renewable energy,” with “no fossil fuel–generated electricity used to power,” Erlendsson said. Its raw material inputs will be carbon neutral by 2030, the company claims, meaning “the removal of all materials derived from fossil fuels” from its process and the use of recycled, renewable, and bio-based materials in their place.
Most EV tires cost around $150–300, but ENSO claims its tires will retail upfront for 10–20 percent less than their competitors’. This is possible, Erlendsson said, because the company sells directly to fleet owners and individuals in the tire aftermarket, allowing them to “cut out the middleman.”
Singapore is the latest stop on Gogoro’s worldwide expansion tour, bringing the company’s industry-leading battery swapping to local riders and expanding the sale of its electric scooters in the local market.
Today Gogoro announced that it has been certified to launch its battery-swapping and Smartscooters in Singapore. The company will launch with its exclusive distribution partner, Cycle & Carriage (C&C), in Q4 2024, who will make Gogoro Smartscooters available to both commercial customers and consumers alike.
The expansion marks yet another major launch for Gogoro, which has now expanded throughout much of Asia while also rolling out early operations in the Middle East and South America.
C&C also announced a partnership with Shell Recharge to launch Gogoro’s battery-swapping GoStations at Shell service stations in the Singapore market.
Those GoStations are key to the company’s business model. They allow riders to swap out Gogoro’s batteries in seconds, which is even faster than a traditional fuel fill-up at a gas station—and much cleaner.
It’s a move Gogoro has used several times before, partnering with local distributors to either pilot its scooters and battery-swapping in new cities, or to begin sales outright while rolling out swap stations installed at local service stations. Due to the small footprint of Gogoro’s GoStations, an area of just one conventional parking space is needed to service dozens, or sometimes hundreds, of electric scooter riders.
This isn’t Gogoro’s first rodeo in Singapore. The Taiwanese battery giant began a local pilot program with the food delivery service foodpanda last year.
That program proved to be quite successful, with Gogoro sharing several performance metrics, including that delivery riders used Gogoro scooters to travel an average of 2,200 km (1,370 mi) per month, usually swapping batteries up to twice daily.
The pilot, which was planned to run for 18 months and will continue until September 2024, has received positive feedback on the performance of the Smartscooters with high satisfaction scores from delivery riders for their speed, lack of heat, silent ride, and minimal vibration.
“While battery swapping technology and two-wheel electric vehicles are relatively new in Singapore, our partnership with Gogoro will accelerate the growth,” said Wilfrid Foo, Managing Director of Cycle & Carriage Singapore. “The positive feedback from foodpanda riders and valuable data gained from the sandbox pilot have given us confidence to commercialise Gogoro in Singapore. We believe that this is a viable green mobility solution for Singapore.”
Gogoro hailed its partnership with foodpanda and C&C, enabling the testing and now rollout of the company’s battery-swapping technology in Singapore.
“After working closely with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) to secure a permit to launch our battery-swapping platform in Singapore, I am pleased to announce that Gogoro is now certified to operate in Singapore. This certification is a testament to how safe, smart, reliable and eco-friendly Gogoro battery swapping is,” said Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro. “Gogoro, Cycle & Carriage and foodpanda have been participating in a pilot that has demonstrated incredible success and we look forward to transitioning to commercial operations soon. We are looking forward to providing a seamless path for riders to adopt sustainable electric transportation in Singapore.”
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July 16 marked important milestones for Mack Trucks, for waste management company Emterra Environmental, and the City of Courtenay and Town of Comox on Vancouver Island.
For Mack, the delivery of LR Electric refuse trucks to Emterra represented its largest single order of electric trucks. Three of a total eight electric refuse trucks were displayed during a special ceremony at the Comox Valley Marina, where they were welcomed with a traditional ceremony by special guests and members of the K’omoks First Nations.
The Mack LR Electric (Photo: James Menzies)
For Emterra, it was a special day because the company continued to expand its sustainability mandate in building a circular economy. And for residents and elected officials from the City of Courtenay and Town of Comox, it was an opportunity to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution for inhabitants.
The deployment of eight electric refuse trucks in the region electrifies Emterra’s entire local fleet and builds on the 2023 rollout of a Mack LR Electric in Peel Region outside Toronto.
“Leaning on new technologies to help us do our work more sustainably has been in our DNA since 1976,” Paulina Leung, chief sustainability officer with Emterra said in an interview with TruckNews.com at the event.
“We developed the first curbside recycling programs for residential areas and communities, then we leaned into adopting lower carbon vehicles; at that time, CNG. With the support we now have from manufacturers like Mack Trucks and its dealer network, it’s easier to scale the adoption of zero-emission vehicles so now we can work toward providing all our services with as minimal environmental impact as possible.”
Emterra runs about 500 trucks across Canada, nine of them now electric including the eight on Vancouver Island. It’s not a pilot project or experiment, Leung stressed.
“Through onboarding our first electric truck in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), we’ve been able to learn through driver training and working with Mack and the dealer there, that our trucks are able to operate a full day without a midday charge,” she said. “It’s working head-to-head with more traditional technologies [such as diesel and CNG-fueled trucks].”
George Fotopoulos, Mack’s vice-president of its e-mobility business unit, told TruckNews.com the LR Electric carries 376 kWh of onboard power, which runs the powertrain, interior auxiliaries and Labrie automated side loader body.
The trucks can perform about 10 hours of work – or cover up to 100 miles (160 km) – on a single charge, he said. “Opportunity charging expands that capability, but it’s more than sufficient for the job at hand here in the Comox Valley,” he said.
The eight electric trucks will be used to service about 25,000 households and businesses in the community and will be supported by local dealer Nanaimo Mack. The LR Electrics’ twin electric motors put out about 448 hp and 4,051 lb.-ft. of torque.
The four nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries are charged with a 150 kW DC fast charger.
“We are excited that Emterra Environmental and the City of Courtenay and Town of Comox chose the Mack LR Electric refuse vehicle to help them accomplish their goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks North America president, said in a related release. “This investment by Emterra signifies that refuse companies and municipalities recognize the importance of sustainability.”
(Photo: James Menzies)
Josie Osborne, B.C.’s minister of energy, mines and low-carbon innovation, was also on hand at the event and commended those involved in bringing the zero-emission vehicles to the province. The move aligns with the province’s own objective to significantly reduce transport-related emissions.
“Waste management trucks – they’re kind of ubiquitous,” she said. “You’ve all grown up with them and we see them going down the city streets. We’ve heard them going down the city streets and smelled the diesel fumes that are going down our city streets. And we know that they’re an essential mainstay of our urban infrastructure. They’re something that we absolutely depend on, but making them electric addresses one of the most significant sources of pollution in our neighborhoods.”
The province of B.C. has set out to slash emissions from the transportation sector by 27-32% through a multipronged approach that includes a shift to more energy efficient forms of transport, including electric vehicles.
As to whether the province’s electrical grid can support such a shift, Osborne insisted “We’re going to make sure that we’re ready to meet the growing demand [for electricity] and that we can get the power when it’s needed, where it’s needed.”
Just recently, B.C. announced a $3.2-billlion investment in the electrical infrastructure on Vancouver Island over the next 10 years to reinforce that grid, part of a broader $36-billion investment across the province focused on reinforcing high-voltage transmission lines and electric substations.
A Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 have been spotted at a supercharger, but not charging with an adapter – this time they were using a native NACS port, suggesting native NACS support could be coming soon.
The sighting occurred yesterday at a Magic Dock equipped Supercharger, and was spotted by Sam Abuelsamid, an independent automotive journalist. Abuelsamid lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where a Magic Dock charger exists, so we suspect that charger is the one.
In the post, the Hyundai and Kia vehicles are both clearly visible, though camouflaged with cladding on the front and rear.
But rather than using the Magic Dock as Abuelsamid was using in his Mach-E, the Hyundai is plugged directly into the regular Supercharger plug.
This is particularly interesting, because it may be the first non-Tesla car we’ve seen charging in public with a native NACS port, not via an adapter.
We’ve spotted other cars charging through adapters, including Hyundais and Kias. We’ve also heard reports (but not seen photos) of GM testing its adapter, which was supposed to come out in Q2 of this year, but has been pushed back likely due to the Supercharger chaos that Tesla CEO Elon Musk created when he unceremoniously fired the whole Supercharger team.
As of now, Tesla’s NACS website says two makes are “supported” for Supercharging via adapters, Ford and Rivian. It says support is “coming soon” for GM, Volvo, Polestar, and Mercedes.
Hyundai and Kia are not listed on Tesla’s website, and no adapter is yet available, nor have we heard of one coming soon. The two brands have been doing very well in EV sales, but were somewhat late to join the NACS announcement train.
Now, having spotted them charging with a native NACS port, this catapults Hyundai and Kia potentially to the front of the line in terms of how rapidly their NACS rollout is developing.
Most automakers have promised that they will give out adapters first, and adopt a native port later. But Hyundai/Kia’s announcement stated that native ports will roll out first, at the end of 2024, with adapters being shipped to existing users in Q1 2025.
But timelines for many manufacturers have been pushed back due to Tesla’s Supercharger chaos, so we weren’t sure if that timeline would be held. However, seeing Hyundai and Kia testing a native NACS port already suggests that they may still be on the same timeline. Stay tuned.
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It’s now July, which means Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale is on the horizon. With summer in full swing and fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to stock up on portable power solutions from BLUETTI, like its AC70 power station, and plenty of other surprise deals promised to pop up during this year’s Prime Day. Learn more below.
BLUETTI is back with the new AC70 Power Station
If you want to explore sustainable power solutions for your life on the go, BLUETTI Power Inc. is a savvy place to start. Since 2020, BLUETTI has continued to roll out an ever-growing lineup of portable and home backup power solutions, accruing several design and innovation awards along the way.
The company’s quest to deliver sustainable and dependable power for all has propelled it to status as one of the leaders in its segment, and it continues to provide new and exciting products each year.
One of its most recent debuts is the new AC70 Power Station – an affordable option with plenty of energy storage to fit a variety of use cases, whether it’s powering a makeshift kitchen while camping, enabling a remote workspace, or helping set up an outdoor movie night during warm summer nights.
This grab-and-go power station weighs a mere 22.5 pounds, making it easy to transport and carry along your journey. Don’t let its lightweight and compact size fool you, though, because the BLUETTI AC70 packs a punch when it comes to power. Its 768Wh capacity and various DC, AC, and USB inputs support all your devices, whether it’s a 120W car fridge, a projector, or an induction cooktop.
While the portable power station delivers 1,000 watts of continuous power to connect various appliances simultaneously, the AC70 also comes equipped with a “Power Lifting” function you can activate from the BLUETTI App.
This feature can handle high-power resistive loads up to 2,000 watts, allowing you to power energy-intensive devices such as hair dryers, electric kettles, electric blankets, and heaters. It is perfect for campsites or other remote activities where you want to be off the grid but not too far removed from your electronics.
Need more power? That’s not a problem. The AC70 is compatible with multiple expansion batteries sold separately by BLUETTI, including the B80 (806Wh), B230 (2,048Wh), or B300 (3,072Wh) packs. Other features include a 500-watt solar input to replenish the power station using the sun’s power (solar panel sold separately), or you can plug it in somewhere nearby and recharge it in 1.3 to 1.6 hours on an AC plug.
In honor of Prime Day, BLUETTI is offering the AC70 Power Station at a sale price of $399—that’s $300 off! You can snag one on BLUETTI’s Amazon store through July 21.
Other Prime Day deals from BLUETTI
Perhaps you’d like to go bigger in your BLUETTI power solutions during its Prime Day sale. There’s no better time to score big deals on the company’s products, but only for a limited time.
You can save thousands on other BLUETTI products compiled into various kits, like the super-popular AC300+B300 combo(save $200) or the 2,400-watt AC200L Power Station(save $400). Bigger power means bigger savings from BLUETTI leading up to Prime Day. Before the Amazon sale begins, you can also save $1,500 on an AC500+B300S combo – Perfect for home backup with 5,000 watts of rated power and an expandable capacity from 3,072Wh to a whopping 18,432Wh.
With BLUETTI powering your outdoor activities, you will not feel blue, because its products were designed to make your summer days happy.
Source: BLUETTI
BLUETTI discount codes and surprise deals for Prime Day
In addition to huge deals on tons of products during Amazon Prime Day, BLUETTI is also keeping the savings rolling this month with some early bird savings.
If your order is over $1,000, you can also use promo code “ElecPD” for $50 off. Note that this code cannot be used together with the above coupons. BLUETTI’s Amazon Prime Day coupons and discount codes are valid until July 31 at Bluettipower.com.
Be sure to check out BLUETTI’s exclusive deals during Amazon Prime Day on July 16 and 17.
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Tesla has launched two new Cybertruck accessories: a tailgate shield and jumpseats that attach to the tailgate.
The first new accessory is a tailgate shield. This is particularly useful to carry bikes in the bed of the Cybertruck.
Most bikes won’t fit well in the Cybertruck’s bed, but if you place them over the tailgate like that, it becomes easy to secure them in the electric pickup truck’s bed like this:
Tesla describes the $300 accessory on its website:
Protect your tailgate while transporting your gear. The Cybertruck tailgate shield features a custom-desgined pad that covers your tailgate when hauling equipment, like road or mountain bikes, over the top of the tailgate. Pad includes molle webbing on the interior side for easy fastening of equipment like th Cybertruck jumpseat, plus a combo carabiner to lock everything into place.
This is what it looks like uninstalled:
The second new Cybertruck accessory that Tesla launched today is a jumpseat that attaches to the tailgate.
Tesla released a few pictures:
They work with the tailgate shield, and they cost $100 each. They don’t look super comfortable for $100, but it’s a cool concept.
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With the launch of Kia’s first electric van nearing, we are finally starting to see the PV5 out in the wild testing. The inside of Kia’s electric van was recently captured for the first time, giving us a closer look at what we can expect. Check out the video below.
Kia unveiled its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy at CES in January, showcasing a new lineup of electric vans.
Its PBVs “go beyond the traditional concept of a vehicle.” By blending fit-for-purpose EVs with advanced software, Kia calls its PBVs total mobility solutions.
As such, Kia promotes its electric vans as “the answer to all your mobility needs.” This could include easier wheelchair access, starting a pop-up business, loading cargo, deliveries, etc. With three models, ranging from small to big (including the EV1, EV5, and EV9), Kia plans to cover all markets.
Kia’s first electric van, the PV5, is set to launch next year. The PV5 is a mid-sized electric people mover and mobile workshop.
The PV5 will be available in different configurations, including basic (for passengers), van (for deliveries), and chassis Cab (Similar to a pickup truck bed). Looking further out, Kia plans to launch an autonomous PV5-R, which could be used for ride-hailing.
Kia’s first electric van, the PV5 (Source: Kia)
Check out the inside of Kia’s first electric van
After catching our first look at the PV5 out in the wild last week, we are now getting a sneak peek at the interior.
The new video from the folks at Healer TV gives us our first look at the inside of Kia’s new electric van.
Kia’s first electric van interior captured (Source: HealerTV/ YouTube)
From the first look, the PV5 interior looks comfortable and, for the most part, what you would expect to see from an electric van.
The reporter notes a “luxurious” and “refreshing” seat design, which gives it a cultural feel. Like other EV makers, Kia uses the interior space with EVs to create more of a personal space rather than simply a means of getting from point A to point B.
Kia’s first electric PBV, the PV5 Concept (Source: Kia)
After it was spotted testing in public this month, the PV5 appears to maintain much of its design. Unlike Hyundai’s electric ST1 van, the PV5 looks more modern and futuristic, like the concept.
Kia PV5 Concept interior (Source: Kia)
In some ways, Kia’s PV5 gives off a Volkswagen ID.Buzz-like feel (check out the video here). Kia will build electric vans at its new PBV plant in Korea. Set to open next year, the factory is expected to support 150,000 units annual capacity. By 2030, output is expected to reach up to 300,000.
Kia believes its electric vans, based on a dedicated EV platform, will help it compete with leaders like Ford and Mercedes.
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![Here’s our first look at the inside of Kia’s new electric van [Video]](https://ev-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1721164512_Heres-our-first-look-at-the-inside-of-Kias-new-696x364.jpeg "Here’s our first look at the inside of Kia’s new")
