Kia Bongo 3 EV Is Part Pickup, Part Flatbed, All Adorable

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Electric pickups are a fast-growing segment with entries like the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and many others. You can add Kia to that list, assuming you’re looking at the South Korean market. The Bongo 3 EV is a work truck with folding sides for a bed and a one tonne cargo capacity. Take a model tour with Asian Gasoline Youtube channel.

Bongo 3 EV has an electric motor produces 181 horsepower (135 kilowatts) and 291 pound-feet (395 Newton-meters). It has two batteries, visible from the outside of the truck, with a total capacity of 58.8 kilowatt-hours. The range in South Korea’s evaluation was 131 miles (211 kilometers). Charging from 0 to 80 percent takes 54 minutes with the 100 kW fast charger.

Instead of driving the wheels directly, there is a drive shaft that sends power to the rear wheels. At the rear, there’s a dual wheel setup with a pair of tires that look small by American truck standards.

It’s a higher trim version of the Bongo 3 EV, and will have a base cost of around $36,000 in the US, according to the video host. However, the South Korean government offered an incentive of around $16,000, which lowered the actual purchase price to about $20,000.

Inside, this Bongo 3 EV is completely new. In fact, there is still plastic covering the seats, steering wheel, and much more. The cabin isn’t luxurious, which makes sense for a work vehicle, but it does have modern technology like a touchscreen infotainment system.

An interesting uniqueness is that there is still an engine access area under the passenger seat. Without the powerplant, the only things that are easily visible down there are the cooling tank and radiator.

As you might expect by looking at the front overhangs and passenger compartment, the Bongo 3 EV has no frunks. A small panel opens to reveal storage for the jack and a windshield washer fluid reservoir.

Don’t expect to see the Bongo 3 EV in the US anytime soon. However, recent reports suggest Kia is developing an electric pickup for this market, and it could arrive as soon as 2024.