Polish rally driver Miko Marczyk deftly demonstrated how careful driving can stretch an electric vehicle battery, Motor1 reported.
Here's what to know
The drive covered 831 mi (1,338 km), about 72% over the Audi A6 Sportback E-Tron's official WLTP range of up to 483 mi (777 km). Marczyk ended up setting a new Guinness World Record for a production electric car.
The attempt got underway in Poland at 1:55 a.m. on Sept. 11 and continued for more than 45 hours, ending only when the battery ran out between Torun and Ciechocinek.
Marczyk's average energy use came in at just 7.09 kilowatt-hours per 62 mi (100 km), which is less than half the car's official combined consumption figure.
The run did not claim the overall EV distance record for a single charge. That title still belongs to the TUfast Eco Team, whose prototype traveled 1,599.27 mi (2,573.79 km) in Germany in September 2023.
What Marczyk's drive did establish was a record for production cars operating on public roads in real traffic.
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It also came after a long-range drive he completed in a diesel Skoda Superb in 2025.
More background
The Audi itself played a major role in the record-setting drive.
The A6 Sportback E-Tron combines a 0.21 drag coefficient — Audi's best for a production car — with a 94.9-kWh net battery pack and regenerative braking rated up to 220 kW.
For drivers considering switching to an EV, driving habits, efficiency, and charging strategy all affect real-world performance.
EV owners save money on fuel compared to gas cars, and EVs have lower routine maintenance costs because they don't need oil changes and have fewer moving parts to service.
What can be done?
Marczyk highlighted basic habits like keeping tires properly inflated and avoiding extra acceleration and braking whenever possible.
Charging strategy matters, too.
Charging an EV at home often costs half as much as using public chargers, but basic Level 1 charging tends to be slow. Qmerit provides free, instant installation estimates for faster Level 2 home charger installations.
Automakers are improving EV aerodynamics, battery design, and regenerative braking systems that recover energy during normal driving. Those upgrades can reduce ownership costs while easing range anxiety for new owners.
Where can I learn more?
Other automakers and engineers are pushing electric vehicles to go farther on a charge.
• Volkswagen's ID.7 delivered a nearly 600-mile drive that underscored how far efficiency can stretch range.
• Mercedes' Vision EQXX showed ultra-efficiency on one charge by traveling roughly 620 miles.
• In Europe, BYD introduced a luxury EV with 643 miles of range.
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