Kia has made history, setting a new global benchmark for all-electric range (AER). The Kia PV5 Cargo, the company’s first dedicated electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) and part of its pioneering Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) line-up, has officially broke a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for achieving: “The greatest distance travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge is 693.38 km”.
The PV5 Cargo Long Range variant, featuring a 71.2 kWh battery, was utilised for the trial with its maximum authorised payload of 665kg**. It covered 693.38 kilometres on a single charge, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and endurance in the eLCV segment. The record-breaking drive took place on 30 September 2025 under authentic, real-world conditions on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany.
“Even if Kia is new to the LCV market, this record is a testament to the versatility and innovation behind Kia’s first PBV, showing that we are serious contenders.” said Marc Hedrich, President and CEO of Kia Europe. “The fact that much of our target audience for this van variant could operate for almost two full working days on a single charge speaks volumes about its real-world capability. The PV5 combines efficiency, flexibility, and intelligent connectivity in one package.”
The record route was carefully designed to replicate the daily realities of delivery and logistics operations. Over a 58.2-kilometre urban and extra-urban loop, the PV5 Cargo faced traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts, and typical city traffic — mirroring the conditions most logistics drivers encounter every day. On top of this, the van repeatedly tackled an elevation gain of approximately 370 metres, completing the loop 12 times while carrying its full payload, and finally coming to a stop within the twelfth loop. The challenging conditions underscore the PV5 Cargo’s superior efficiency and reliability. Designed by engineers to optimise practical usability, the PV5 serves as a highly dependable solution for sustainable urban mobility without compromising performance.
At the wheel of the record-setting PV5 were George Barrow, a respected commercial vehicle journalist who specialises in vans and Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC). The award-winning journalist has more than 15 years of experience covering LCVs. He has also been on the jury of International Van of the Year (IVOTY) Award since 2016, representing the UK. Nigemeier, holds degrees in mechanical engineering and has been part of the PV5 development team.
“I’m genuinely excited to have been part of this incredible GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title – 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 (693km) 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! The PV5 and Christopher were great teammates for this challenge, and I’m proud to have been part of a record that pushes the boundaries for electric vans.”
“As an engineer, this challenge was both technical and personal,” said Christopher Nigemeier, Senior Engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre. “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.”
The record attempt was meticulously prepared. Inspectors from TÜV Hessen and buck Vermessungsupervised the loading process and verified compliance with weight specifications. The drive was continuously recorded using GPS tracking and in-cabin cameras. Before departure, the PV5’s battery was charged to 100 per cent and both the charging port and cargo compartment were sealed until the end of the 22-hour, 30-minute journey.
As the inaugural model in Kia’s PBV family, the PV5 is built on the innovative E-GMP.S architecture (Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service) and designed with a modular “building block” concept. This flexibility allows for multiple configurations—Cargo, Passenger, Chassis Cab, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle*** — to suit a wide range of commercial and personal applications.
The PV5 Cargo variant offers up to 4.4 cubic meters of load space**** and a payload capacity of up to 790 kilograms**. Arriving in Ireland this December, the PV5 Cargo is available in two trim levels with the K2 model featuring impressive specification as standard including twin side-opening doors, LED headlights, digital key, air conditioning, heated seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, towbar wiring, Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) at a competitive starting price of just €33,230 ex-VAT. In addition, the K4 model features ventilated cloth and leather seats, 360° Surround View Monitor (SVM), Blind-spot View Monitors (BVM), electric folding mirrors and Blind-spot Collision Avoidance Assist with a starting price of €35,100 ex-VAT. The PV5 Cargo will come as standard with a 71.2 kWh long range battery option and Kia Ireland will operate their PBV business from nine existing Kia dealerships.
