Tesla drivers set a new record for miles driven on a single charge

By Lulu Chang Published December 11, 2017

If you’re looking to go on a road trip before the end of the summer, you may think about taking your Tesla. The Tesla Owners Club Italia set a new record for the longest distance traveled in an electric vehicle on a single charge over the weekend: an impressive 1,078 kilometers (just under 670 miles) on a single charge. The Club used a Tesla Model S P100D to achieve this impressive accomplishment, and its members became the first to drive a production EV over 1,000 km. The previous record stood at a little over 900 km (around 560 miles).

It took the Club 29 hours to travel its 1078 km, and the route was planned throughout the suburban roads of Salerno in southern Italy. While the EV is indeed a normal production car that featured standard low rolling resistance tires, the drivers gamed the system as much as they could to ensure that the vehicle stayed running for as long as possible.

Recommended Videos

The average speed of their trip was just 40 km per hour, or 24.85 mph — so if you’re looking to get anywhere fast, don’t expect your Tesla to last quite so long on a single charge. Moreover, the Club noted that the AC was kept off the entire time, and drivers sought to maintain a “smooth driving approach.”

Apparently, Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving system was hugely helpful in ensuring a longer range. As driver Rosario Pingaro noted, “[This system] helped us to keep a constant speed in the middle of the lane.”

While managing to get over 1,000 km in an EV on a single charge is an impressive feat in and of itself, the Club noted that its goal was to underscore just how feasible transitioning from fossil fuels to more sustainable and eco-friendly power sources really could be. “To complete the 1078 km record distance, we used 98.4 kW/h of electricity, which is equivalent to 8 liters of gas (or 3.78 gallons),” explained Tesla Owners Club Italia President Luca Del Bo.

Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, took to Twitter following the impressive feat to congratulate the team. “Officially verified as the first production electric car to exceed 1000km on a single charge,” the entrepreneur wrote. “Congratulations Tesla Owners Italia!!”

Former Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Topics

Cars

China’s latest tiny EV costs just $6,735 and somehow squeezes in five doors

The four-seat Bestune Pony joins the cute-car crowd with rear doors and a price that puts its Wuling rival squarely in view

Orange car, front three-quarter

FAW's five-door Bestune Pony has launched in China from 44,900 yuan, roughly $6,735. The tiny EV packs four seats into a cheerful little box just 3.35 meters long.

It looks like something you'd buy in a gift shop, but the layout makes room for everyday chores. There are four passenger doors and a rear hatch, so getting into the back doesn't require folding a front seat out of the way.

Cars

Volkswagen’s smartest EVs are launching in China while the US and Europe wait

China-only models already have the software, charging, and driving technology VW’s Western cars are still waiting to receive

Volkswagen ID UNYX 08

Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.

With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.

Cars

BYD’s $12,000 Qin Plus DM-i shows how much US buyers are overpaying for their cars

A cheap commuter car that could take you from New York to Miami without refueling? Yes, please.

BYD Qin Plus DM-i feature

BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.

What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.