Kia Launches Innovative PV5 WAV for Wheelchair Users: A Game Changer in EV Accessibility

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Kia said March 15 that it has handed over the PV5 WAV — a purpose-built vehicle optimized for transporting wheelchair users — to Dplus Kia (DK) player Kwon Jae-hyeok.

Born in 2007, Kwon is a professional League of Legends player with the DK Challengers squad.

Kia will provide the vehicle to him on a complimentary lease for the duration of his affiliation, and he will use it for commuting to practice and traveling to away matches.

“I’m very happy and grateful to receive the PV5 WAV, which embodies Kia’s philosophy of ‘infinite possibilities,’” Kwon said. “This gives me an environment where I can focus on competitions, and I’ll repay that support with stronger performances.”

The PV5 WAV supplied to Kwon is the first electric vehicle in South Korea to offer side-entry access, designed to improve convenience and safety for wheelchair users.

A side sliding door with a 775 mm (30.5 in) opening and a manual in-floor two-stage ramp let passengers board directly from the sidewalk.

The manual in-floor ramp adjusts between one and two stages depending on boarding conditions and provides an effective width of 740 mm (29.1 in), accommodating manual and powered wheelchairs that meet Korean Industrial Standards (KS) recommended specifications.

Kia has also added the PV5 WAV to its corporate social responsibility program, Kia Green Travel, to support mobility for people with limited access to transportation.

Launched in 2012, Kia Green Travel lends specially modified vehicles free of charge to people with mobility challenges. The program now operates across eight regional zones nationwide and has served roughly 100,000 people over 15 years.