South Korean automaker Kia has entered the record books with its latest all-electric van, the PV5. The vehicle achieved an official Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a light-duty electric van on a single charge while fully loaded.
The record-setting drive took place on September 30 along public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany, a route chosen to mimic the typical daily operations of a delivery van. The test vehicle was an unmodified PV5 Cargo L2H1 model, which covered a distance of 430.84 miles (693.38 km) while carrying a full payload of 690 kg.
Behind the wheel were Christopher Nigemeier, a member of the PV5 development team, and George Barrow, a UK-based vehicle journalist, who completed 11 full laps of a 36.2-mile circuit before coming to a stop on the 12th lap.
The record attempt was validated by TÜV Hessen and Buck Vermessung, who oversaw the loading process and confirmed that the vehicle met all weight requirements. Powered by a 71.2 kWh battery, the van was fully charged prior to departure, and both the charging port and cargo area were sealed throughout the 22-hour and 30-minute journey.
The entire run was monitored using GPS tracking and in-cabin cameras to ensure transparency and accuracy.
“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,” said 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,” he added.
The PV5 has a WLTP combined test cycle range of 258 miles, measured without any payload. During testing, it achieved an average efficiency of 6 miles per kilowatt-hour. Kia’s internal evaluations indicated that each additional 100 kg of payload would reduce the van’s range by approximately 1.5%.
The PV5 marks Kia’s first dedicated model under its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) initiative and is built on Hyundai’s E-GMP S architecture. This versatile EV platform can accommodate multiple variants. Currently, Kia offers the PV5 in Passenger and Cargo versions, with plans to roll out seven additional body types in the coming years, including light camper, wheelchair-accessible, and open-bed models.
The PV5 Cargo provides up to 4.4 m³ of cargo space and a maximum payload of 1,740 lbs (790 kg). It comes with two battery options—51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh—delivering WLTP ranges of 184 miles and 258 miles, respectively.
Furthermore, Kia aims to expand its electric van lineup with the larger PV7 in 2027 and the even bigger PV9, expected around 2029.
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