The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest altitude change by an electric vehicle. Starting from Umling La, the highest road in the world at 5,799 meters in the Himalayas, the Ioniq 5 descended to Kuttanad, Kerala, located three meters below sea level.
This ambitious journey spanned two weeks, showcasing the Ioniq 5's resilience over diverse terrains. Surprisingly, the longest-range version wasn't used. Instead, a smaller 72.6-kWh battery variant managed the 4,956 km (3,079 miles) journey under challenging weather conditions.
Even in the remote Himalayan areas, the journey was supported by charging infrastructure. Hyundai Motor India reported that fast-charging networks in major cities like Srinagar, Kargil, and Leh facilitated this cross-country adventure. At Umling La's Hanle base camp, slower charging was utilized, which added an extra day to the journey but was essential for the ascent.
While the Ioniq 5 typically offers a 318-mile range with its 84.0-kWh battery, this journey used the smaller battery, which was not ideal given the cold conditions. Unsoo Kim, Managing Director at Hyundai Motor India, praised the Ioniq 5 for its durability and engineering excellence, describing it as "progress for humanity."
Although a standard model was used for the journey, the new 2025 XRT Ioniq 5 would typically be better suited for such treks. This version features off-road enhancements, including a 0.9-inch lift and rugged design elements. The choice underscored Hyundai's confidence in the Ioniq 5's capabilities, even without off-road optimizations.
While this was an intriguing adventure, other vehicles like the Ioniq 9 might better handle similar feats in the future, thanks to anticipated features and enhancements.
In summary, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 has demonstrated that electric cars can tackle formidable challenges, setting a standard for future EV innovations.
 | Honestly, I think this is more of a marketing gimmick than a real achievement. Electric cars still have a long way to go in terms of versatility. |
 | I’m not convinced this proves anything significant about electric cars. The conditions of the journey were controlled, so what does it really tell us? |
