- The Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled on a single charge in a light electric van, whilst carrying a full payload, has been beaten by the Kia PV5 Cargo, cracking 430.84 miles (693.38 kilometres) on a single charge.
- The 71.2kWh battery variant used for the record has an official range of up to 258 miles, showing just how much further official range can be stretched with economical driving techniques.
- The record-beating PV5 Cargo was also loaded up to its maximum permitted payload, weighing in at a total of 2,652 kilograms.
Kia PV5 Cargo now holds the world record for electric van battery range
The achievement beats the previous record which was held since 2023, when a UK-driven Fiat E-Scudo electric van achieved 311.18 miles on a single charge, which also did not carry a heavy payload unlike the PV5 Cargo. The Fiat also had a larger 75kWh battery compared to the PV5 Cargo’s 71.2kWh unit. This makes the 38.4% rise in range all the more impressive, and shows just how far EV battery technology has come in only a few years.
This record-breaking drive was achieved on public roads near to Frankfurt, Germany, using a 36 mile loop which comprised both urban and extra-urban roads and traffic. This included frequent stops and starts, as well as an elevation gain of 370 metres per loop. This circuit well represents how electric vans will be used in the commercial space, and proves the PV5 Cargo’s strengths as an urban delivery machine. As we’ve already seen when it comes to EV efficiency, these lower urban speeds will have helped this electric van to significantly beat its official claimed range.
The Kia PV5 was only launched earlier this year, and is the first electric light commercial vehicle to be released by the manufacturer – with the PV5 hoping to go up against established rivals in the electric van space, such as the Ford E-Transit and Volkswagen ID. Buzz. This range world record will go some way to cement the PV5 as a strong option for customers looking at new electric vans, and also prove to those who may still be considering an ICE van that electric vans can still go the distance and work in their fleets and businsesses.
Marc Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe, commented on the achievement:
“Even if Kia is new to the LCV market, this record is a testament to the versatility and innovation behind Kia’s first PBV, showing that we are serious contenders. The fact that much of our target audience for this van variant could operate for almost two full working days on a single charge speaks volumes about its real-world capability. The PV5 combines efficiency, flexibility, and intelligent connectivity in one package.”
Helping drive the Kia PV5 Cargo to its world record was UK commercial vehicle journalist George Barrow, alongside Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center.
George Barrow said:
“I’m genuinely excited to have been part of this incredible Guinness World Records achievement. It was a demanding but unforgettable journey. I was seriously impressed by how far the Kia PV5 can go: more than 430 miles on a single charge and with a full payload. That’s no small feat, and I have a feeling this record won’t be easy to beat! The PV5 and Christopher were great teammates for this challenge, and I’m proud to have been part of a record that pushes the boundaries for electric vans.”
Christopher Nigemeier added:
“As an engineer, this challenge was both technical and personal. George brought an incredible amount of driving experience from testing other vans, while I had the advantage of knowing the PV5’s powertrain inside out. It became a friendly competition between us – who could squeeze the most out of each kilowatt-hour. In the end, it was the vehicle itself that impressed us both.”
