Van charges to record

Kia has celebrated becoming a world record breaker after its first dedicated electric light commercial vehicle, the PV5 Cargo, travelled nearly 700km on a single charge.

Part of the marque’s platform beyond vehicle (PBV) line-up, it set the Guinness World Record for achieving “the greatest distance travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge”.

The PV5 Cargo Long Range 4-door variant, featuring a 71.2 kWh battery and with a payload of 665kg, covered 693.38km during a drive under real-world conditions on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany.

Ho Sung Song, Kia Corporation’s president and CEO, says: “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. 

“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 route was designed to replicate the realities of daily delivery and logistics operations. Over a 58.2km urban and extra-urban loop, the PV5 Cargo faced traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts, and typical city traffic.

Each loop also had an elevation gain of about 370 metres, with the vehicle finally coming to a stop during its 12th circuit on September 30, 2025.

At the wheel was George Barrow, a commercial vehicle journalist who specialises in vans, and Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre.

Barrow says he was excited to have been part of a “demanding but unforgettable journey” that took 22 hours and 30 minutes.

“I was seriously impressed by how far the Kia PV5 can go: more than 690km 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,” he adds.