Kia schools Tesla with PV5 cargo van range record delivering Model 3 efficiency

The new Kia PV5 electric van managed to cover more than 430 miles on a single charge if its 71 kWh battery, establishing a Guinness world record for a fully loaded light cargo vehicle.

Despite a nearly 1,500-pound payload, the Kia cargo van covered over 430 miles on a route designed to mimic real-life scenarios. The 36-mile (58 km) loop included a typical mix of city and highway driving that delivery drivers face every day.

It took more than 22 hours for a dedicated van reviewer and a PV5 development engineer to cover the impressive distance with a maxed out Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).

The 430-mile range returns an efficiency of about 11 kWh per 100 km, or 17.7 kWh per 100 miles, a rather impressive feat for a cargo van that weighed more than 2.5 tons during the testing. For comparison, some Tesla Model 3 drivers report a similar 18 kWh/100 miles efficiency in ideal conditions, but the more common number is about 22 kWh.

As if to hammer the efficiency point home, Kia evidently ran the loop without cargo, and claims that for each 100 kg (220 pounds) of cargo weight, the PV5 only lost 1.5% of its range when empty. This essentially means that Kia’s first electric van built on Hyundai’s latest modular platform for electric service vehicles would have only gone about 40 miles further without the 1,500-pound cargo.

Besides excellent efficiency, the new dedicated Kia van offers the typical for the brand, fast DC charging that takes the battery to 80% in 30 minutes. Said battery should also last more than usual, as a recent EV longevity study showed that Kia’s batteries retain their capacity better over time than those in Teslas or other electric vehicle brands.

The PV5 van series can be configured as either a passenger or cargo vehicle, as well as a version for transporting people with reduced mobility. In the US, the PV5 cargo is expected to start from about $37,000 when it launches in 2026.

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