Big news in the world of electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs): the Kia PV5 Cargo has set a Guinness World Record by traveling 693.37km on a single charge while carrying a full 665kg payload.
And this wasn’t some rolling road in a laboratory either. The record drive took place in real-world conditions on public roads near Frankfurt, Germany, with the PV5 completing a 60km loop, featuring traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts, and typical city traffic, some 12 times.
Though we are told the cabin and charging port were sealed for the entirety of the 22 and a half hours it took to set the record, not exactly what a deliveryman is going to be doing on their regular rounds. Spare a thought, too, for drivers George Barrow and Christian Nigemeier… we dare not ask what was required when nature called.
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“It was a demanding but unforgettable journey,” said journalist Barrow. “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.”
“This challenge was both technical and personal,” added engineer Nigemeier. “It became a friendly competition between us—who could squeeze the most out of each kilowatt-hour.”
The record attempt was overseen by inspectors from TÜV Hessen and buck Vermessung, who supervised the loading process and verified compliance with weight specifications, with the drive recorded using GPS tracking and in-cabin cameras.
Back to that point we made earlier. Guess Barrow and Nigemeier aren’t camera shy…
More photos of the Kia PV5 Cargo achieving a Guinness World Record:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
