Kia’s bigger PV7 electric van caught in action, making the PV5 seem small

This is car news, not a home energy story, but here's the gist: Kia is rolling out a second electric van, the PV7, a bigger sibling to its PV5 model. The PV5 has done well in Europe, making up over a third of the electric van market in its size class there. The PV7 will be larger, built on the same underlying platform, and is expected to run on a battery pack of over 70 kWh, giving it a projected range of at least 217 miles on the European test cycle. That's a step up from the PV5's larger battery option, which is rated near 256 miles, though final PV7 numbers aren't out yet.

The PV7 will come in passenger and cargo versions for personal or business use, and inside it's expected to carry a similar screen and software setup to the PV5. Size-wise, it's noticeably longer, wider, and taller than the PV5, closer to the concept version Kia showed a couple years back. Kia plans to reveal the finished van in full at a trade show in Germany on September 14.

For homeowners, this doesn't connect to weatherization, heat pumps, or rebates — it's simply a preview of a new electric commercial and passenger van from Kia. If you're weighing an EV purchase alongside home upgrades like a heat pump or added insulation, this is more a note for later than something with any bearing on current programs or incentives.