Kia PV5 WAV Wheelchair-Accessible Van Offers Side Entry and V2L Medical Power
Kia's PV5 WAV, a wheelchair-accessible van with side-entry boarding and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) power for medical equipment, aims to expand mobility for people with disabilities.
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- 110,000
What Happened
Kia's PV5 WAV is the first dedicated PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) designed from the ground up for wheelchair users. It features a side-entry boarding system that allows wheelchair users to enter alongside companions, unlike conventional rear-entry vehicles. The vehicle is part of Kia's PBV vision, which aims to create adaptable mobility spaces for diverse needs.
The PV5 WAV includes a wheelchair securing system and a third-row tip-up seat to assist caregivers and family members. Its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology can power medical equipment like oxygen concentrators while traveling, extending the vehicle's function beyond transportation into daily care.
“I've been in the hospital for about 23 years now. The view I see is always the same—just the same city outside. I wish this whole room could move.”
110,000
Since 2012, Kia's CSR initiative has provided mobility services to people with disabilities.
Onyou Kim, who has relied on respiratory support for 23 years, used the PV5 WAV to travel to the ocean for the first time since age 15. Her trip was facilitated by Green Trip, Kia's CSR program. Kia aims to expand access to mobility through continued collaboration with initiatives like Green Trip.
Why this matters
The PV5 WAV redefines wheelchair-accessible vehicles by replacing rear-entry with side-entry, allowing users to travel alongside companions. Its V2L technology powers medical equipment like oxygen concentrators during trips, merging mobility with care. Kia's decade-old Green Trip program has already aided 110,000 people, and this vehicle extends that mission.
Terms in This Story
- PBV
- Platform Beyond Vehicle, Kia's modular vehicle platform designed for customizable configurations.
- V2L
- Vehicle-to-Load technology that allows an electric vehicle to power external devices.
- WAV
- Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, a vehicle modified or designed for wheelchair users.
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