The Kia PV5 makes for a ridiculously cool dump truck

This is a commercial vehicle story, not really a home upgrade topic, but here's what's happening.

Kia has built a dump truck version of its electric PV5 work van. The company's new PV5 Chassis Cab, launched in Europe and the UK, has an open bed that lets outside companies build all kinds of specialty vehicles on top of it. One version, made with a company called TGS Automotive Group, is a lightweight tipper that turns the PV5 into a small dump truck, with aluminum sideboards and a fold-down tailgate for hauling materials.

The electric van comes with two battery options: a 51.1 kWh standard version and a 71.2 kWh long-range version, the latter rated for up to 258 miles. Fast charging can take the battery from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes, while a home-style 11 kW charger takes roughly six and a half hours for a full charge. Kia says the chassis cab can carry up to 2,200 pounds, depending on which conversion is built on it, and has a tight turning radius for maneuvering in cramped spaces.

For homeowners, this isn't directly useful news, since the vehicle is aimed at construction and landscaping businesses and is launching first in the UK and Europe. But it's a sign that electric work trucks are becoming more common and more specialized, which may eventually mean more electric equipment options show up on residential job sites.