Kia’s new EV van is over 17.5 ft long and can haul 9 people or lots of cargo [Images]

This news is about a vehicle, not a home energy upgrade, but it may interest homeowners who use an electric vehicle to power tools or backup a few circuits. Kia has unveiled the PV7, a new electric van over 17.5 feet long that seats up to nine people or hauls cargo. It comes with two battery options (71.5 kWh and 96.2 kWh), and the longer-range cargo version can travel over 285 miles on a charge. It can fast-charge from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes.

The feature most relevant to homeowners is vehicle-to-load (V2L), which lets the van's battery power tools, camping gear, or other electronics directly — the same kind of technology some homeowners use to run appliances or emergency loads from an EV during a power outage. The van isn't designed as a home backup system, but this capability shows how automakers are building outlets and power-sharing into more electric vehicles.

Kia plans to sell the PV7 in Korea and Europe starting in the second half of 2027, with other markets and additional versions to follow. Pricing hasn't been announced yet. For homeowners, this isn't a product tied to any rebate program or energy-efficiency incentive — it's simply a preview of a commercial-style EV that happens to include home-adjacent power features. If you're weighing an EV purchase partly for its ability to back up appliances or run equipment, V2L capability like this is worth checking for on whatever model you're considering, since it varies by manufacturer and trim.