Polish rally driver Miko Marczyk has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a production EV on a single charge, driving an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron for 831 miles without recharging.
Miko Marczyk Drives Audi EV 831 Miles on One Charge
Marczyk, the reigning European Rally Champion, began the record-setting drive on September 11 at 1:55 a.m. near Kraków, Poland. He drove to the town of Hel on the Baltic Sea before following the same route back until the Audi EV finally ran out of charge.
The total distance reached 831 miles, significantly exceeding the electric sedan’s official 483-mile WLTP rating. Marczyk also had to contend with normal driving conditions, including rush-hour traffic, during the journey.
The achievement marks Marczyk’s second Guinness World Record. Last year, he drove a diesel-powered Škoda Superb for 1,759 miles on a single tank of fuel, setting a Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency.
How the Audi A6 e-tron Achieved the Record
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron’s aerodynamic design played an important role in the drive. Its drag coefficient of 0.21 makes it the most aerodynamic Audi in existence.
The car is also equipped with a 94.9-kWh battery, which helped provide the energy needed for the record-setting journey. Marczyk’s driving technique was another key part of the effort.
He carefully used regenerative braking throughout the drive while anticipating road conditions ahead. He also worked to avoid sudden braking and acceleration in an effort to maximize the vehicle’s efficiency.
The Production EV Record vs. the Overall Electric Range Record
Marczyk’s 831-mile drive set the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a production EV on a single charge. However, the outright electric-range record belongs to the TUfast Eco Team’s muc022 prototype.
The prototype traveled 1,599 miles using a 15.5-kWh battery. That achievement took place in a controlled test environment inside a hangar, making it different from Marczyk’s real-world drive through Poland.
Marczyk’s latest record adds an electric achievement to his previous fuel-efficiency record, this time using an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron and a combination of the vehicle’s aerodynamic design, battery capacity and highly efficient driving.
