Fully Loaded Electric Kia PV5 Van Achieves 451-Miles Range
The all-new Kia PV5 electric van is creating a stir after achieving a whopping 451-mile range on a single charge to set an officially recognised Guinness World Record for commercial vehicles.
Moreover, the record wasn’t engineered in ideal conditions with the Kia PV5 carrying a full load of cargo and embarking on a route filled with variable speeds and stop-start conditions.
The PV5 – which very recently landed at Vansdirect in Short Range and Long Range guise – is Kia’s first-ever light commercial vehicle in Europe and is built on a fresh platform that will spawn at least two more vans, the PV7 and PV9, in the next couple of years.
In an effort to prove that it is possible to extend the mileage of an electric van beyond its official figures, testers drove a Kia PV5 Cargo L2/H1 fitted with the ‘long range’ 71.2kWh battery on an ‘extra urban’ route with a full permitted 690kg payload capacity until it came to a stop.
Despite the official combined WLTP (World Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) of the PV5 Cargo being set at 258-miles, testers were able to go a full 172 miles further before it the battery eventually drained.
With the route in Frankfurt, Germany described as ‘authentic, real-world conditions’ and the official adjudicators coming along for the ride to ensure it met criteria, the Kia PV5 covered 430.84 miles over 22 hours and 30 minutes. That’s a rate of 6.2 miles/kWh.
The achievement has been ratified by the Guinness World Records, which earns the Kia PV5 Cargo the title of ‘greatest distance travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge’.
Marc Hedrich, president and CEO of Kia Europe, said: “Even if Kia is new to the LCV market, this record is a testament to the versatility and innovation behind Kia’s first PBV (platform beyond vehicle).
“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.”
It is believed that the Kia has been conservative with the longevity of its PV5 Cargo on official figures, but internally it is understood to be capable of exceeding 400-miles on a single charge on a regular basis with considered driving.
