Kia has just set a new benchmark in the world of electric vans — proving that range anxiety might soon be a thing of the past. The Kia PV5, the brand’s first fully electric light commercial vehicle, has officially broken the record for the longest single-charge driving distance, covering over 430 miles on real-world roads in Germany.
Real-World Challenge, Real-World Results
This wasn’t just a lab test—they did the drive in Germany at the end of September 2025 on normal roads you’d find on delivery routes. The PV5 got around 6 miles per kWh, which beat its official WLTP range comfortably.
That kind of efficiency speaks volumes about Kia’s E-GMP.S platform. More importantly, it proves how far things have come with real-world electric vans—the kind that need to work hard without stopping for a top-up every few hours. With the UK pushing forward with zero-emission targets, records like this are more relevant than ever.
Marc Hedrich, Kia Europe’s boss, nailed it when he said:”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.”
Kia PV5: Designed for the Future of Electric Deliveries
The PV5 is Kia’s big entry into the electric light commercial vehicle scene. It got its UK debut at the 2025 Commercial Vehicle Show, and it’s being rolled out in stages. If you’re thinking of getting one, orders started on 1 May 2025, with deliveries expected a bit later this year.
You’ve got two main versions at launch:
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PV5 Cargo (your standard panel van), starting at £22,645 plus VAT—that’s after the UK Plug-in Van Grant.
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PV5 Passenger (seats five), kicking off at £32,995 on-the-road.
There’s also a seven-seat option and a chassis cab version on the way soon, so more choices if you need something a bit different.
It’s all part of Kia’s PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) plan. Basically, they’ve gone with a cab-forward design to free up more room inside. You’ll get a flat floor, modular seating, and options that work whether you’re hauling gear or ferrying people about. Extras include sliding doors, loads of driver-assist tech, and Geotab fleet tools for better tracking and planning.
Technology to Match the Hype
To set that distance record, Kia used the PV5 with the big 71.2 kWh battery pack. Normally, in the Cargo version, you’re looking at up to 258 miles WLTP range on that setup. There’s also a smaller 51.5 kWh battery if you don’t need quite so much, and that’ll still give you up to 183 miles.
Fast charging? Yep, it’s got that covered—the 150kW DC charger gets you from 10–80% in under 30 minutes. Handy if you’re doing lots of miles and can’t afford long stoppages.
On the tech front, it ticks the right boxes: native Android apps, vehicle-to-load (V2L) output if you need to power stuff directly from the van, and plenty of connected features to help both delivery firms and solo traders keep everything running smoothly.
Kia’s record-setting achievement with the PV5 highlights the growing maturity of electric commercial vehicles. The van’s blend of long-range capability, efficient design, and modern technology demonstrates how EVs are becoming increasingly practical for everyday business use. As the UK continues its transition toward zero-emission transport, vehicles like the PV5 show that electric options are steadily closing the gap with their diesel counterparts — offering real-world usability without sacrificing range or reliability.
