Kia reimagines the off-road camper van with new concept EV

Whenever we write about electric vans, the comments reveal a growing but pent-up demand for a camper version. Well, it seems that those vibes are being felt at Kia. It has created a pair of concepts for the automotive trade show SEMA, which got underway in Las Vegas today.

One of the two concepts will look more familiar—the EV9 ADVNTR is based on the popular electric three-row SUV. But the other is the PV5 WKNDR, a rugged off-road camper based on a forthcoming Kia electric van platform.

The EV9 ADVNTR makes good use of the existing EV9’s angular design, with new sections filled in with protective cladding. There’s a suspension lift and all-terrain tires, plus a roof rack, to distinguish it from lesser EV9s, but otherwise it’s relatively stock.

The PV5 WKNDR is the more interesting of the two. Like the SUV, it’s lifted and wears off-road tires and sports the same matte-green-with-yellow-highlights color scheme. Designed to be “the ideal escape pod for extended weekends in nature,” it now features a popup camper roof complete with solar panels.

When you’re parked and camping, the steering wheel can be tilted out of the way.

Kia

When you’re parked and camping, the steering wheel can be tilted out of the way.

Kia

The various furnishings can all be stowed in the floor or the walls of the van for space efficiency.

Kia

The various furnishings can all be stowed in the floor or the walls of the van for space efficiency.

Kia

When you’re parked and camping, the steering wheel can be tilted out of the way.

Kia

The various furnishings can all be stowed in the floor or the walls of the van for space efficiency.

Kia

There’s another pop-out section from the side for storing gear while you’re parked and set up (called the gear head), and a reconfigurable interior depending on your mood. A kitchen with an induction stove pops out of the side of the WKNDR, and you can use the gear head as a pantry, Kia says.

The production PV5 is set to go on sale in Korea next year.

Kia

The production PV5 is set to go on sale in Korea next year.

Kia

There’s exterior stowage on the WKNDR so you have more room on the inside—note the pop-out Gear Head on the left.

Kia

There’s exterior stowage on the WKNDR so you have more room on the inside—note the pop-out Gear Head on the left.

Kia

Yes, the roof is solar.

Kia

Yes, the roof is solar.

Kia

There’s exterior stowage on the WKNDR so you have more room on the inside—note the pop-out Gear Head on the left.

Kia

Yes, the roof is solar.

Kia

Since we’ve only seen renders so far, it’s hard to know how much of the tech on the PV5 WKNDR is real. The press kit says that the solar panels can charge the PV5’s batteries, but so, too, can “unique hydro turbine wheels.” It does not elaborate on what these are, but it sounds like maybe you can stick a wheel in a running stream and it’ll spin the motor, thereby generating electricity? If I were at SEMA, I would be sure to ask.