“Greatest distance travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge”
What just happened?
- The PV5 Cargo covered 430.84 miles (693.38 km) on one charge.
- It did so while carrying its maximum payload — in real-world conditions, on public roads near Frankfurt, Germany, including traffic lights, roundabouts, and elevation changes.
- The run lasted about 22 ½ hours, over a looped route of about 36.2 miles (58.2 km) repeated 12 times.
- The vehicle was in unmodified, production form (with the larger 71.2 kWh battery) and weighed with the full cargo load for authenticity.
Why this matters
- For fleet operators and businesses, this is huge: it demonstrates that a full-load electric van can go significantly further than the brochure claim (the official WLTP range for this model was around 258 miles) under usable, real operating conditions.
- It gives a strong signal that electric commercial vehicles aren’t just for short hops — with the right model, the “range anxiety” question moves further back.
- It strengthens the case for electric vans in UK-based fleets (and at companies like ours at National Vehicle Solutions, we take notice) because greater range + full-load capability = less downtime, fewer charging stops, more productivity.
- From a sustainability and emissions viewpoint, this is an important milestone: moving vans off diesel or petrol starts to look more viable for more businesses sooner.
The headline specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance on one charge | 430.84 miles (693.38 km) |
| Payload condition | Maximum payload during the run (≈ 665-790 kg depending on source) |
| Duration | ~22.5 hours |
| Route conditions | Public roads, traffic lights, roundabouts, elevation gain (~370 m) |
The record set by the Kia PV5 Cargo isn’t just a press-release stat. It’s tangible proof that an electric van, under real working conditions, can deliver on the promise.
If you’re considering upgrading your fleet, switching to electric, or just want the best value van lease deal in the UK, this is exactly the kind of development you want to see.
