Kia’s new PV5 Cargo van just broke the Guinness World Record for electric light commercial vehicles by traveling 430.84 miles on a single charge – all while carrying its maximum permitted payload of 790kg.
The record-breaking drive took place on public roads around Frankfurt, Germany, under real-world conditions. This wasn’t a controlled test track – it’s the kind of driving commercial operators face every day.
George Barrow, a motoring writer and van specialist, shared driving duties with Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center. The marathon 22-hour, 30-minute journey pushed the PV5’s 71.2kWh battery to its absolute limits.
Before starting, officials charged the battery to 100% and sealed both the charging port and cargo compartment to ensure everything was above board.
“I’m genuinely excited to have been part of this incredible Guinness World Records achievement. It was a demanding but unforgettable journey,” said Barrow. “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 for any electric van.
Barrow noted the achievement won’t be easy to beat. The PV5 launched earlier this year as Kia’s first electric commercial vehicle, built on a dedicated 400 Volt platform designed specifically for commercial use.
“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,” Nigemeier said.
The engineer described it as a friendly competition between the drivers – who could squeeze the most out of each kilowatt-hour of battery capacity.
“In the end, it was the vehicle itself that impressed us both.”
PV5 Specs and Pricing
The all-electric PV5 starts at £27,645 before VAT. Kia offers two battery configurations:
- 51.5kWh battery – 184-mile official range with 120bhp motor
- 71.2kWh battery – 258-mile official range with 161bhp motor
The UK Government’s plug-in van grant makes the PV5 eligible for a £5,000 price reduction, bringing the entry-level model down to around £22,645 before VAT.
That 430-mile real-world achievement significantly exceeds even the larger battery’s official 258-mile range – showing what’s possible with efficient driving techniques and optimal conditions.
The record demonstrates how electric commercial vehicles are becoming viable alternatives for long-distance hauling, even with full payloads.
