A new world record has been set for the longest journey made by an electric car on a single charge.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E has driven 569.64 miles (916.74 km) around England, beating the previous record set by just six miles, to claim the Guinness World Record for a production electric vehicle that customers can buy in showrooms right now.
The attempt was a project between Webfleet Mobility Solutions, Bridgestone Tyres and AA.
On July 28, 2024, a new world record was set for the longest trip made by an electric car on a single charge. A Ford Mustang Mach-E traveled 916.74 km (569.64 mi) around England to claim the Guinness World Record.
Setting a new benchmark in electric vehicle performance, Ford’s electric SUV was driven by drivers Kevin Booker and Sam Clarke, and supported by co-driver Richard Parker.
The tour was completed over 24 hours across Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire, with Clarke and Brooker driving on a combination of urban and rural roads to emulate real-world driving conditions.
With Bridgestone tyres (which helped extend range thanks to low rolling resistance), the £60,000, 91kWh Mach-E’s 373-mile range exceeded expectations, averaging 6.25 miles per kilowatt hour.
The Mach-E’s battery life was only supposed to last from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, but after hitting zero percent battery, Sam and Kevin managed to continue driving for another 21 miles.
In the end, the The car’s autonomy lasted more than 24 hours. to end at 02:09 on Sunday 28 July.
Equipped with a 91 kWh battery and a WLTP range of 373 miles, the Mach-E Premium Extended Range SUV RWD Auto, with 18” wheels, selected for its advanced battery technology and driver comfort, exceeded expectations, averaging 6.25 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh) on public roads.
Ford’s electric SUV was driven by Webfleet-sponsored drivers Kevin Booker and Sam Clarke and supported by Webfleet co-driver Richard Parker, who drove for 24 hours and managed to cover 21 miles on 0 per cent battery to claim the title.
The record attempt was meticulously documented with independently verified video footage, odometer readings, GPS and battery level data from Webfleet, and was supported by AA vehicles throughout the entire route.
The motoring group also officially judged the attempt which narrowly beat the previous attempt – the previous record set in Hangzhou, China, was 563.97 miles.
The maximum distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge is 628 miles, achieved by the Mercedes EQXX concept car earlier this year.
However, because the EQXX is just a prototype designed to showcase the range capabilities of future electric vehicles, it doesn’t qualify to enter the esteemed record books.
The Mercedes EQXXX electric concept car holds the longest known driving record on a single charge, 1,000 kilometres, which it achieved earlier this year. However, as it is only a prototype and not a production vehicle, it does not qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records.
Both Clarke and Booker, who are already listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, hold previous records for fuel economy and energy consumption in electric vehicles.
They have now accumulated five and two driving-related Guinness World Record titles respectively.
Booker said: ‘Breaking this record has been an exciting ride and a powerful demonstration of what electric vehicles can achieve.
“It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come with EV technology and efficiency. We hope this inspires more people to consider EVs for their daily commute.”
Clarke added: “Driving the Ford Mustang Mach-E for such a long distance on a single charge was an extraordinary experience. The efficiency of the vehicle and the support of Webfleet’s technology made it possible.”
This is not Ford’s first record for electric vehicles
The Mach-E Premium Extended Range RWD Auto isn’t the first Ford electric vehicle to break a world record.
In March, the new Ford Explorer SUV became the first electric car to drive around the world.
Led by explorer Lexie Alford, the Charge Around the Globe was a reimagining of pioneering adventurer Aloha Wanderwell’s early 20th-century circumnavigation of the globe in a Model T Ford.
The 2024 campaign covered more than 30,000 km (approximately 18,640 miles), spanned 27 countries and crossed six continents.
Ford called it the “ultimate test drive” as it put electric charging infrastructure to the test on a global stage and aimed to help reduce range and charging anxiety for new EV buyers.
Adventurer Lexie Limitless (Lexie Alford), pictured right, became the first person to drive around the world in an electric vehicle in Ford’s new Explorer SUV. The world record was set in Nice on March 26, 2024, and Ford CEO Jim Farley (left) greeted Lexie at the finish line. The Ford Explorer officially went on sale as soon as the record was completed.
The journey was a reimagining of the true pioneer adventurer Aloha Wanderwell, who became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe by car. She drove a Ford Model T in the early 20th century.
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