A new world record has been set for the longest journey by an electric car on a single charge.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E was driven 569.64 miles (916.74km) around England, surpassing the previous record set by just six miles, to claim the Guinness World Record for a production EV that customers can buy in showrooms right now.
The attempt was a project between Webfleet Mobility Solutions, Bridgestone tyres and the AA.
A new world record has been set for the longest journey by an electric car on a single charge on 28 July 2024. A Ford Mustang Mach-E was driven 569.64 miles (916.74km) around England to claim the Guinness World Record
Setting a new benchmark in EV performance, the electric Ford SUV was driven by drivers Kevin Booker and Sam Clarke, and supported by co-pilot Richard Parker.
The drive was completed over 24 hours throughout Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire, and Clarke and Brooker drove on a mix of urban and rural roads to emulate real-world driving conditions.
Running on Bridgestone tyres – which helped to extend range thanks to low rolling resistance – the £60,000 91kWh Mach-E’s 373-mile range surpassed expectations, averaging 6.25 miles per kilowatt hour.
The Mach-E’s battery life was only supposed to last from 2am to 10pm on Saturday 27 July but after reaching zero per cent battery, Sam and Kevin managed to continue driving for another 21 miles.
In the end, the car’s range lasted over 24 hours to finish at 02.09am on Sunday 28 July.
Equipped with a 91kWh battery and boasting 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 – surpassed expectations, averaging 6.25 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh) on public roads
The electric Ford SUV was driven by Webfleet-sponsored drivers Kevin Booker and Sam Clarke and supported by Webfleet co-pilot Richard Parker who drove for 24 hours and managed 21 miles over 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 drive.
The motoring group also officially adjudicated the attempt which beat the previous attempt by a hair’s breadth; the previous record set in Hangzhou in China was 563.97 miles.
The outright furthest distance travelled in an EV on a single charge is 628 miles, achieved by the Mercedes EQXX concept car earlier this year.
However, because EQXX is only a prototype designed to showcase the range abilities of future EVs, it does not qualify to enter the esteemed record books.
The Mercedes EQXXX electric concept has the known longest single-charge driving record at 628 miles, which it achieved earlier this year. However, because it’s only a prototype and not a production vehicle, it doesn’t qualify for the Guinness World Record Books
No stranger to the Guinness Book of World Records, both Clarke and Booker hold previous records for fuel economy and energy consumption in electric vehicles.
They have now amassed five and two driving related Guinness World Records titles respectively.
Booker said: ‘Breaking this record has been an exhilarating journey and a powerful demonstration of what electric vehicles can achieve.
‘It is incredible to see how far we have come with EV technology and efficiency. We hope this inspires more people to consider electric vehicles for their everyday travel.’
Clarke added: ‘Driving the Ford Mustang Mach-E for such a distance on a single charge was an extraordinary experience. The vehicle’s efficiency and the support from Webfleet’s technology made this possible.’
Not Ford’s first EV record
The Mach-E Premium Extended Range RWD Auto is not the first Ford EV to break a world record.
In March the all-new Ford Explorer SUV became the first electric car to circumnavigate the globe.
Driven by explorer Lexie Alford, the Charge Around the Globe was a reimagining of pioneering female adventurer Aloha Wanderwell’s early 20th century circumnavigation of the globe in a Ford Model T.
The 2024 campaign saw over 30,000km (approx 18,640 miles) driven, 27 countries covered, and six continents crossed.
Ford called it the ‘ultimate test drive’, as it put electric charging infrastructure to a test on a worldwide stage and aimed to help squash range and re-charge anxiety for new EV buyers.
Adventurer Lexie Limitless (Lexie Alford) – pictured right – became the first person to circumnavigate the world in an electric vehicle with Ford’s all-new Explorer SUV. The world record was set in Nice on 26 March 2024, with Ford’s managing director, Jim Farley (left) greeting Lexie at the finish line. The Ford Explorer officially went on sale as soon as the record was complete
The journey was an reimagining of true pioneering adventurer Aloha Wanderwell who became the first woman to drive around the world in a car. She drove a Ford Model T back in the early 1900s
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