Kia PV5 Cargo sets electric van distance record

Kia’s PV5 Cargo electric light commercial vehicle has set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance travelled by a light-duty electric van with maximum payload on a single charge, covering 693.38 km on public roads in Germany.

The PV5 Cargo Long Range 4-door variant, equipped with a 71.2 kWh battery and carrying its maximum authorised payload of 665kg, completed the record-breaking drive on 30 September 2025 under real-world conditions on public roads north of Frankfurt.

The achievement establishes a new benchmark for efficiency and endurance in the electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) segment, with Kia’s first dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) model demonstrating practical range capabilities for fleet operations.

Real-world test conditions

The record route was designed to replicate daily delivery and logistics operations, featuring a 58.2 km urban and extra-urban loop that included traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts, and typical city traffic conditions.

The PV5 Cargo completed the loop 12 times while carrying its full payload, tackling an elevation gain of approximately 370 metres on each circuit before coming to a stop within the twelfth loop. The 22-hour, 30-minute journey was continuously monitored using GPS tracking and in-cabin cameras.

At the wheel were George Barrow, a commercial vehicle journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering light commercial vehicles and a jury member of the International Van of the Year Award since 2016, and Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center who was part of the PV5 development team.

“I’m genuinely excited to have been part of this incredible Guinness World Record title – it was a demanding but unforgettable journey,” Barrow says. “I was seriously impressed by how far the Kia PV5 can go: more than 690 km 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.”

Nigemeier says the challenge combined technical and personal elements. “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.”

First PBV family member

The PV5 represents the inaugural model in Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle family, built on the Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service (E-GMP.S) architecture with a modular “building block” concept allowing multiple configurations including Cargo, Passenger, Chassis Cab and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle variants.

The PV5 Cargo variant offers up to 4.4 cubic metres of load space and payload capacity of up to 790kg, with customers able to choose from 51.5 kWh, 71.2 kWh and a forthcoming 43.3 kWh battery options.

“The Guinness World Record achieved by the PV5 Cargo is a milestone that embodies Kia’s vision of creating mobility solutions that go beyond transportation,” says Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia Corporation. “This remarkable accomplishment proves that our Platform Beyond Vehicle is not only innovative in concept but also practical and efficient in the real world.”

The record attempt was supervised by inspectors from TÜV Hessen and buck Vermessung, who verified compliance with weight specifications and monitored the loading process. The PV5’s battery was charged to 100% before departure, with both the charging port and cargo compartment sealed until the journey’s completion.

Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of PBV Division at Kia Corporation, says the record demonstrates the outstanding efficiency and reliability built into the PV5. “By combining long-range capability with real-world practicality, Kia PBVs are designed to empower businesses and individuals with smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions that enhance everyday productivity.”

The record-breaking PV5 Cargo will be displayed at the Solutrans Tradeshow in Lyon from 18 November 2025. While specifications are based on the European model and may vary by market, the achievement highlights the potential for electric commercial vehicles to meet demanding fleet requirements in markets including New Zealand, where businesses are increasingly exploring sustainable transport solutions.

Source: Kia Corporation press release, 29 October 2025