Kia unveils first look at its new PV5: This is the electric van we’ve been waiting for
Kia just pulled the covers off its new electric van, the PV5, giving us our first look at the futuristic model. The mid-size model is the first in Kia’s upcoming lineup of purpose-built electric vans that’s expected to shake up the growing market. From the first look, the PV5 will rival the Volkswagen ID.Buzz and Ford E-Transit. Check it out below.
Here’s our first look at the Kia PV5 electric van
We first saw the PV5 concept at CES last January after Kia introduced its “game-changing” Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) platform.
The PV5 was showcased alongside the larger PV7 and smaller PV1 models. Unlike Ford’s E-Transit, Kia’s electric van rides on a dedicated EV (PBV) platform. The flexible modular architecture will underpin the entire lineup as part of Kia’s plans to secure a leadership role in the electric van market.
After teasing the production model last week, Kia unveiled the exterior design for the first time on Thursday. The PV5 will be available in several configurations, including Passenger and Cargo models.
Kia said it will introduce another model during its upcoming EV Day on February 24. As you can see, Kia went all out with this one.
Like its newest EV models, the PV5 features a bold, almost futuristic-like design. In Kia’s words, the electric van’s “contemporary design transcends traditional light commercial vehicles.”
Massive windows that span the entire Passenger model add to the modern look, but also make it easier to see when driving.
Added black geometric wheel arch claddings and rocker panels give the PV5 a slightly rugged, off-road feel, “confidently linking the high-tech upper cabin with the more rugged and purposeful lower body.”
Although the Cargo model has a similar design, the boxy profile enables more interior space for delivery and other business uses (and don’t forget the camp lifers). Kia also included twin side-opening tailgate doors, making it easier to load and unload.
Kia will reveal additional info, including powertrain specs, seating setups, and more, during its EV Day next week. The event will be held in Tarragona, Spain, on February 24. Official details will be released on February 27. Check back next week for more on the Kia PV5.
At the event, Kia will also introduce the EV4 electric sedan and hatchback models alongside a smaller, more affordable EV2 concept.
With its official debut coming up, the PV5 was spotted testing in the US this week (check them out here). Images and a video sent to Electrek by Alex Nguyen reveal a Volkswagen ID.Buzz-like design.
Kia’s PV5 Cargo Compact concept, the most basic model, is 177.2″ long, 74.8″ wide, and 74.8″ tall. However, that’s the “Compact” model. The regular Passenger and Cargo variants will be bigger. To give you a comparison, the US-spec ID.Buzz (LWB) is 195.4″ long, 78.1″ wide, and 76.2″ tall, while Ford’s E-Transit is 237.6″ long, 81.3″ wide, and 83.9″ tall.
What do you think of Kia’s mid-size electric van? Do you like the look better than the ID.Buzz or E-Transit? Let us know in the comments below.
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The Trump administration is shutting down EV chargers at all federal government buildings and is also expected to sell off the General Services Administration‘s (GSA) newly bought EVs.
GSA, which manages all federal government-owned buildings, also operates the federal buildings’ EV chargers. Federally owned EVs and federal employee-owned personal EVs are charged on those 8,000 charging ports.
The Verge reports it’s been told by a source that plans will be officially announced internally next week, and it’s seen an email that GSA has already sent to regional offices about the plans:
“As GSA has worked to align with the current administration, we have received direction that all GSA-owned charging stations are not mission-critical.”
The GSA is working on the timing of canceling current network contracts that keep the EV chargers operational. Once those contracts are canceled, the stations will be taken out of service and “turned off at the breaker,” the email reads. Other chargers will be turned off starting next week.
“Neither Government Owned Vehicles nor Privately Owned Vehicles will be able to charge at these charging stations once they’re out of service.”
Colorado Public Radio first reported yesterday that it had seen the email that was sent to the Denver Federal Center, which has 22 EV charging stations at 11 locations.
The Trump/Elon Musk administration has taken the GSA’s fleet electrification webpage offline entirely. (An archived version is available here.)
The Verge‘s source also said that the GSA will offload the EVs it bought during the Biden administration, although it’s unknown whether they’ll be sold or stored.
Read more: Trump just canceled the federal NEVI EV charger program
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Ben Zhou, chief executive officer of ByBit, during the Token2049 conference in Singapore, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
Joseph Nair | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has been hacked to the tune of $1.5 billion in digital assets, in what’s estimated to be the largest crypto heist in history.
The attack compromised Bybit’s cold wallet, an offline storage system designed for security. The stolen funds, primarily in ether, were quickly transferred across multiple wallets and liquidated through various platforms.
“Please rest assured that all other cold wallets are secure,” Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, posted on X. “All withdrawals are NORMAL.”
Blockchain analysis firms, including Elliptic and Arkham Intelligence, traced the stolen crypto as it was moved to various accounts and swiftly offloaded. The hack far surpasses previous thefts in the sector, according to Elliptic. That includes the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021 and the $570 million drained from Binance in 2022.
Analysts at Elliptic later linked the attack to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective notorious for siphoning billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency industry. The group is known for exploiting security vulnerabilities to finance North Korea’s regime, often using sophisticated laundering methods to obscure the flow of funds.
“We’ve labelled the thief’s addresses in our software, to help to prevent these funds from being cashed-out through any other exchanges,” said Tom Robinson, chief scientist at Elliptic, in an email.
The breach immediately triggered a rush of withdrawals from Bybit as users feared potential insolvency. Zhou said outflows had stabilized. To reassure customers, he announced that Bybit had secured a bridge loan from undisclosed partners to cover any unrecoverable losses and maintain operations.
The Lazarus Group’s history of targeting crypto platforms dates back to 2017, when the group infiltrated four South Korean exchanges and stole $200 million worth of bitcoin. As law enforcement agencies and crypto tracking firms work to trace the stolen assets, industry experts warn that large-scale thefts remain a fundamental risk.
“The more difficult we make it to benefit from crimes such as this, the less frequently they will take place,” Elliptic’s Robinson wrote in a post.
WATCH: Crypto stocks plunge
Environment
Ford Mustang Mach-E is heavily discounted, you can even lease it for less than a Toyota Camry
Ford is offering big savings opportunities right now on its electric vehicles. The Ford Mustang Mach-E can be leased for less than a Toyota Camry in some places despite costing over $10,000 more. Here’s how you can snag some savings.
Ford’s Mach-E is cheaper to lease than a Camry right now
With over 51,700 models sold in 2024, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E was the third best-selling EV in the US behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
The electric Mach-E even outsold the gas-powered Mustang for the first time last year. To keep up with new models like the Honda Prologue and the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, Ford introduced big discounts at the start of the year.
Ford extended its “Power Promise” program in January, offering all EV buyers a free Level 2 home charger. The company will even cover the cost of standard installation. If you already have a home charger, Ford will give you a $1,000 charging credit.
According to online car research firm CarsDirect, the savings don’t stop there. Through March 31, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E can be leased for as little as $229 for 24 months in Southern California.
With $4,329 due at signing, the effective cost is just $409 per month. The deal is for the base 2024 Mach-E Select with an MSRP of $39,995 and includes a $7,750 lease cash bonus.
In comparison, the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE (MSRP $28,400) is listed at $299 for 39 months and $3,598 due upfront, for an effective rate of $391 per month.
Although that’s slightly less than the Mach-E, if you factor in Ford’s other incentives, it’s actually much cheaper. In addition to the $1,000 charging credit, Ford is offering current Tesla owners $1,000 in conquest bonus cash, which can be applied to the purchase or lease of a new vehicle.
The $2,000 in savings brings the effective monthly lease rate to just $326 per month. That’s even $10 cheaper than a 2025 Toyota Corolla LE with an MSRP of just $22,325, or over $17,500 less than the Mustang Mach-E.
Alternatively, Ford is offering the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E for 0% APR for 72 months plus $2,500 in bonus cash.
Ford also introduced new incentives on the F-150 Lightning last week. The 2024 F-150 Lightning now features a nationwide 0% financing for 72 months offer with additional savings of up to $5,000 off MSRP.
The new Flash trim now features an up to $3,000 retail cash bonus, XLT and Lariat trims get up to $4,000, and the Platinum model gets a $5,000 bonus.
Ford’s electric pickup is eligible for the $1,000 Tesla Conquest bonus and public charging credit offer. Ram owners can snag an extra $2,000 from a serperate conquest program.
If you’re ready to test drive Ford’s electric vehicles for yourself, we can help you get started. You can use our links below to find Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models at a dealer near you.
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