- Kia PV5 Cargo sets new Guinness World Record
- Longest distance covered on a single charge in a electric light commercial vehicle
- Distance of 430.84 miles
- While carrying its full payload!
- Far surpasses stated official range of 258 miles
- Read our review of the Kia PV5 Cargo
- Lease the Kia PV5 Cargo now with Select Van Leasing - and it's much more affordable than you might think
The Kia PV5 Cargo has just set an astonishing new Guinness World Record for distance covered in an electric van.
The futuristic PV5 travelled 430.84 miles on a single charge while carrying its full payload.
The record-breaking run took place on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany, where the PV5 Cargo Long Range variant, fitted with a 71.2kWh battery, completed a 58km urban and extra-urban loop 12 times while loaded to its maximum authorised payload of 665kg.
Independent inspectors from TÜV Hessen verified the vehicle’s load and route before the 22-hour, 30-minute drive began, sealing both the charging port and cargo bay to ensure the test met official Guinness World Records standards.
Rather than being driven in a lab or on a closed circuit, the PV5’s route included junctions, traffic lights, roundabouts and a 370-metre elevation gain, mirroring the mixed driving conditions faced by many van operators.
Kia says the achievement demonstrates not only the range potential of its electric light commercial platform, but also its ability to handle realistic day-to-day delivery operations.
“This remarkable accomplishment proves that our Platform Beyond Vehicle is not only innovative in concept but also practical and efficient in the real world,” said Ho Sung Song, president and CEO of Kia Corporation.
Behind the wheel were Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe technical centre, and journalist George Barrow.
“More than 690km on a single charge and with a full payload — that’s no small feat,” said Barrow. “The PV5 really pushed the boundaries for what an electric van can do.”
The PV5 is Kia’s first model from its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) family, a new generation of modular electric vans built on the E-GMP.S architecture. The Cargo version offers 4.4m³ of load space and up to 790kg payload, with 51.5kWh and 71.2kWh battery pack options designed to meet different operational needs.
Other configurations will include Passenger, Chassis Cab, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle variants, using the same flexible base.
“This record demonstrates the outstanding efficiency and reliability built into the PV5,” added Sangdae Kim, executive vice president and head of Kia’s PBV Division.
The Kia PV5 is arriving in the UK imminently, with the record-breaking Long Range version likely to headline the range, and we’ve had an early drive. Our own economy results and this record-breaking run hint at strong potential for fleets looking to make the switch to electric without compromising on payload or practicality.
You can read our review of the Kia PV5 Cargo in full here.
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