The Kia PV7 is even bigger than expected and has a range of over 460 km [Images]

This is a car story, not a home energy upgrade — Kia just unveiled a new electric van, the PV7, at a trade show in Germany. It doesn't connect to home energy improvements, but here's what it covers for anyone curious about EVs.

The PV7 is Kia's larger electric cargo and passenger van, bigger than its earlier PV5 model and bigger than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It comes with two battery options (71.5 kWh and 96.2 kWh), and the longest-range version can go over 460 km (285 miles) on a charge, using the European testing standard. It can fast-charge from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes on a powerful charger. Kia plans to build 23 different versions of the van, including cargo models with up to 8 cubic meters of storage and passenger versions seating up to 11 people, depending on the market.

Kia will sell the PV7 in Korea and Europe starting in the second half of 2027, with pricing to be announced closer to launch. For comparison, the smaller PV5 van starts around $30,000 to $34,000 in Korea and about $44,000 in Germany. There's no word yet on whether the PV7 will come to the United States. If you're weighing an EV purchase alongside home upgrades like a heat pump or a home charger, this van is aimed at commercial and shuttle use rather than typical household driving, so it's more a signal of where electric vehicle technology is heading than something to plan around right now.