George Barrow is a record breaker with Kia

Guild member George Barrow is now a Guinness World Record holder after playing a pivotal role in a successful attempt made by Kia on 30th September.

George partnered with Christopher Nigemeier, a senior engineer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, to set a new record for the range of an electric light commercial vehicle.

Driving a PV5 Cargo, Kia’s first dedicated electric LCV, the pair travelled 693.38km, 430.84 miles, the greatest distance travelled by a light-duty battery-powered electric van with maximum payload on a single charge.

The record-breaking drive took place under authentic, real-world conditions on public roads north of Frankfurt in Germany. The route was carefully designed to replicate the daily realities of delivery and logistics operations – over a 58.2km urban and extra-urban loop, the PV5 Cargo faced traffic lights, intersections, roundabouts and typical city traffic, mirroring the conditions most fleet drivers encounter every day.

The van also repeatedly tackled an elevation gain of approximately 370 metres, completing the loop 12 times while carrying its full payload, and finally coming to a stop within the 12th loop.

George, who reviews vans on his website, said he was genuinely excited to have been part of what was a demanding, but unforgettable, journey. “I was seriously impressed by how far the Kia PV5 can go: more than 430 miles on a single charge and with a full payload – that’s no small feat, and I have a feeling this record won’t be easy to beat!

“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.”