Kia expands PV5 range with 71.2kWh Long Range chassis platform
Kia is expanding its electric commercial vehicle offering with the introduction of the PV5 Chassis, a dedicated electric chassis platform designed to accommodate application-specific bodies and conversions.
The new Kia PV5 Chassis is built on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service (E-GMP.S) architecture, which was developed specifically for its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) commercial vehicle strategy. The chassis is designed to give fleet operators greater flexibility to configure an electric vehicle around their particular operational requirements.
For the UK market, Kia has confirmed TGS Automotive Group as its official PBV conversion partner for the PV5 Chassis.
The announcement also confirms that for the UK-market only PV5 Chassis models will be equipped with Kia’s 71.2kWh Long Range battery, providing greater scope for businesses operating longer routes or those with less convenient access to charging.
“Commercial-vehicle customers need solutions that reflect how they actually operate,” said Erhan Eren, Director PBV at Kia Europe.
“The 71.2kWh Long Range battery extends the flexibility of the PV5 Chassis, giving businesses greater scope to balance distance, charging access and conversion requirements in one compact electric platform.”
Electric chassis designed for conversion
Unlike conventional vans that may require extensive adaptation before being converted for specialist applications, the PV5 Chassis has been developed from the outset as a flexible commercial vehicle platform.
Its exposed rear chassis provides a foundation for different body types, allowing operators to select a configuration suited to their particular work. Potential applications include construction, local authority operations, logistics, maintenance and specialist services.
Kia originally unveiled the PV5 Chassis Cab at SOLUTRANS in France in 2025, describing it as the company’s first fully electric dedicated chassis cab model. The sub-five-metre vehicle was developed with European converters and is intended to combine the manoeuvrability of a compact van with the carrying capability required by commercial operators.
Depending on specification and conversion, Kia has previously quoted payload capability of up to 1,005kg for the unfinished chassis and cargo volumes of up to eight cubic metres with a High Box configuration. However, final payload and range figures for completed vehicles will vary according to the body, equipment, load and operating conditions.
The compact dimensions are also intended to make the PV5 Chassis suitable for urban and restricted-access environments. Kia quotes a 5.5-metre turning radius, which can be beneficial for vehicles operating on construction sites, in depots and on urban streets.
TGS to offer UK conversion programme
The partnership with TGS Automotive Group is an important part of Kia’s attempt to establish the PV5 as a viable platform for a wider range of commercial applications.
TGS will offer lightweight tippers, dropsides and box bodies, giving operators access to several common commercial vehicle configurations through Kia’s approved conversion programme.
The conversion range will also include modular equipment such as mesh cages, fall arrest systems, Chapter 8 traffic management equipment and beacons. Kia says the TGS conversions will offer a claimed best-in-class payload for their respective applications.
The first TGS-converted PV5 Chassis vehicles are planned for launch in Q4 2026.
The partnership follows Kia’s announcement of its first UK PBV Conversion Partners earlier in 2026. Alongside TGS, the network includes Würth UK for load-area and racking solutions, CoolKit for temperature-controlled applications, Modul-System for workplace and storage solutions, and GM Coachwork for wheelchair-accessible vehicle conversions.
This approach forms part of Kia’s broader PBV strategy, which is designed to move beyond the traditional concept of a van being supplied in a fixed configuration. Instead, the manufacturer is developing a common electric platform that can support multiple body styles and specialist applications.
71.2kWh battery extends operating flexibility
The biggest change for the UK PV5 Chassis is the decision to use the 71.2kWh Long Range battery as the market’s battery configuration.
The battery is already available in the PV5 Cargo, where Kia quotes a WLTP range of up to around 258 miles depending on version. Kia has stressed that the final range of the Chassis will depend on the completed conversion, equipment, payload, route and operating conditions.
That distinction will be particularly important for commercial operators. A chassis carrying a lightweight dropside body, for example, will have different energy consumption from a heavier tipper or a box body with additional equipment.
The Long Range battery is therefore intended to provide additional operating headroom rather than a single guaranteed range figure across the conversion programme.
The PV5 Chassis Long Range version uses a 120kW electric motor and supports DC fast charging. Kia has stated that the vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes using suitable high-power charging infrastructure. An 11kW AC charger can also support overnight depot charging, with the larger battery taking around six and a half hours for a 10-100% charge under the stated conditions.
For fleets, the combination of battery capacity, fast charging and depot charging could allow the vehicle to be integrated into operations where daily mileage varies considerably.
Part of Kia’s wider PBV strategy
The PV5 Chassis expands an electric commercial vehicle range that already includes the PV5 Cargo, Passenger and Crew variants. We reviewed the PV5 Cargo in June 2026.
Kia’s E-GMP.S platform was designed specifically around commercial applications, rather than adapting an internal-combustion vehicle architecture for electric propulsion. The company says this approach enables greater flexibility in vehicle packaging and conversion.
The PV5 Chassis also retains the technology and safety focus of the wider PV5 range, including driver assistance systems and Kia’s connected vehicle capabilities.
Kia has previously described the chassis as a foundation for applications ranging from dropsides and tippers to refrigerated vehicles, mobile workshops and specialist vehicles.
When the PV5 Chassis was first unveiled, Kia Europe President and CEO Marc Hedrich said: “The launch of the PV5 Chassis Cab underscores our commitment to redefining what a light commercial vehicle can be. It combines compact efficiency with the carrying capacity of larger vans to offer customers across Europe a responsible, flexible solution for daily operations.”
For UK fleets, the arrival of the TGS conversion programme gives that flexibility a more practical commercial application. Rather than simply offering an electric panel van, Kia is now providing a platform that can be specified around the work the vehicle is expected to perform.
With the first TGS conversions due during Q4 2026, the PV5 Chassis is set to give UK operators another dedicated electric option for tipper, dropside and box-body applications, while the standard 71.2kWh Long Range battery provides additional capacity for businesses looking to electrify vehicles operating beyond typical urban delivery routes.
