Kia’s electric van, the PV5, just left the competition in the dust by breaking a Guinness World Record for the farthest distance covered on a single charge while carrying its maximum payload. The PV5 Cargo traveled an astonishing 430.84 miles (693.38 kilometers) fully loaded with 690 kilograms of cargo, proving it’s no lightweight when it comes to real-world endurance.
The record run took place on public roads near Frankfurt, Germany, over a route designed to mimic a typical day for delivery drivers. The 36.2-mile loop was tackled 12 times, featuring city traffic, roundabouts, traffic lights, and elevation changes totaling around 370 meters. The attempt lasted 22 hours and 30 minutes, with both the cargo bay and charging port sealed throughout to ensure consistent conditions.
Powered by a 71.2 kWh battery, the PV5 demonstrated impressive energy efficiency with an average of more than six miles per kilowatt-hour. This performance more than doubles the minimum distance required by Guinness World Records for such an attempt, smashing expectations for electric light commercial vehicles.
Marc Hedrich, Kia Europe’s president, hailed the achievement as proof that this van can keep many fleets moving for nearly two full workdays without needing a recharge, a massive boost for sustainability and productivity. Senior engineer Christopher Nigemeier praised the challenge as both technical and personal, enjoying a friendly contest with van journalist George Barrow to squeeze every kilowatt-hour from the battery.
This record run cements the Kia PV5, built on the new Platform Beyond Vehicle architecture, as a game-changer in electric commercial transport. With configurations for cargo, passengers, and accessibility, plus strong payload capacity and modular battery options, it’s packing serious capability into a zero-emission package.
The record-breaking PV5 Cargo will be showcased from mid-November at the Solutrans tradeshow in Lyon, turning heads and rewriting the rules for electric vans on the road.
