Kia PV5 Cargo sets Guiness World Record for electric light commercial vehicles
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 Guiness 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 693.38km”.
The PV5 Cargo Long Range variant, featuring a 71.2 kWh battery, was utilised for the trial with its maximum authorised payload of 665kg, and covered 693.38 kilometres on a single charge.
The record-breaking drive took place on 30th September 2025 under authentic, real-world conditions on public roads north of Frankfurt, Germany.
George Barrow (IVOTY juror) and Christopher Nigemeier (HMETC) are presented with the Guinness World Record certificate.
“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.”
At the wheel of the record-setting PV5 were George Barrow, a commercial vehicle journalist who specialises in vans and Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC).
The record route was carefully designed to replicate the daily realities of 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 — 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.
Kia says the challenging conditions underscore the PV5 Cargo’s superior efficiency and reliability.
The Kia PV5 Cargo arrives in Ireland this December and is priced from €33,230 ex-VAT.
