Hyundai Ioniq 5 sets world record for electric vehicle capable of operating at the greatest change in altitude

When the Guinness World Records book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that would settle the often endless arguments in many pubs across the UK.

However, the excitement that the Guinness World Records book brings has made it quickly become an 'open encyclopedia' of all records big and small, even including the somewhat strange and bizarre records. All simply aim to bring surprise, surprise about what someone can do.

Things got a little more serious for Hyundai this year: With the Guinness World Records 2024 theme being 'Blue Planet' and emphasizing the natural world, the Korean automaker decided to take it upon itself to set a new world record for the greatest change in altitude experienced by an electric vehicle (EV).

To achieve the record, Hyundai drove an Ioniq 5 EV to an altitude of 19,035 feet (5,800 meters) over a 3,000-mile journey across the Indian peninsula. Last year, the record was set by China's Changan Nevo A07 EV, which experienced an elevation change of 18,766 feet while traveling nearly 1,500 miles across the Tibetan Plateau.

The Ioniq 5's journey begins in the Himalayas, specifically at India's highest driving point: Umling La in Leh Ladakh, which sits at 5,798m above sea level. The journey ends in Kuttanad, Kerala, which is 3m below sea level.

Over two weeks, the Hyundai electric vehicle traveled through a variety of terrain and extreme weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and steep mountain passes, as well as wet coastal areas.

Commenting on the new record, Unsoo Kim, managing director, Hyundai Motor India, said, 'This achievement is a testament to Hyundai's unwavering commitment to innovation, technological excellence and sustainability. The performance of the Ioniq 5 in such extreme conditions is a clear reflection of the vehicle's engineering prowess and durability.'

The Ioniq 5 is equipped with a 72.6 kWh battery, allowing the car to travel more than 480km after each full charge. Through the Tesla SuperCharger system, the basic Hyundai Ioniq 5 can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 31 December 2024