The forthcoming Kia PV5 Cargo has entered the record books, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled by an electric van on a single charge while carrying its full payload.

The all-electric PV5 Cargo Long Range model covered 430.84 miles on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany — all while hauling its maximum authorised load of 665kg.

The feat, verified by Guinness World Records inspectors and monitored by TÜV Hessen, took more than 22 hours to complete and required the van to tackle a real-world 58km (36 mile) loop of urban and extra-urban roads 12 times, complete with traffic lights, junctions, and gradients totalling 370 metres of climbing per loop.

Kia says the test was designed to mimic a typical working day for a delivery driver, and the result shows how much efficiency the new platform can deliver when used for genuine fleet work, not just lab tests.

“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.

Kia PV5 Cargo sets Guinness World Record

The record attempt was carried out by Christopher Nigemeier, senior engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe, 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, and I’m proud to have been part of it.”

The pair drove a PV5 Cargo Long Range 4-door variant fitted with the 71.2kWh battery. Before departure, the vehicle was fully charged and sealed, with independent inspectors verifying its load, route, and energy use throughout the 22-hour run.

Kia PV5 Cargo sets Guinness World Record

The PV5 is the first model from Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) line-up, a dedicated family of modular electric vans built on the company’s new E-GMP.S platform, and we loved it.

The PV5 Cargo offers up to 4.4m³ of load space and a payload of up to 790kg, with battery options of 51.5 and 71.2kWh. Variants include Cargo, Passenger, Chassis Cab and a Wheelchair Accessible version, each sharing the same building-block approach to maximise versatility.

“This record demonstrates the outstanding efficiency and reliability built into the PV5,” said Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia’s PBV Division.

With our own impressive economy results, and a record-setting drive, the PV5 could become one of the most capable and efficient electric vans on the market.

Phil Huff
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