Lucid Air Grand Touring Shatters World Record for Longest EV Journey on Single Charge, Covering 749 Miles Across Three Countries
Key Insights
The Lucid Air Grand Touring has set a new Guinness World Record by traveling 749 miles (1,205 km) on a single charge across three European countries.
The record-breaking journey, led by Umit Sabanci, demonstrated exceptional efficiency, surpassing the vehicle's official WLTP range by a significant margin.
Lucid's in-house engineering, focusing on aerodynamics and powertrain efficiency, was crucial to achieving this extended real-world range.
This achievement reinforces Lucid's position as a leader in EV performance and signals potential for more affordable, long-range electric vehicles in the future.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the longest journey completed by an electric vehicle on a single charge, covering an astonishing 749 miles (1,205 kilometers) across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The record-breaking drive, undertaken by hyper-miling expert Umit Sabanci, commenced in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and concluded in Munich, Germany, traversing diverse terrain including winding mountain passes, high-speed autobahn sections, and narrow secondary roads.
This achievement significantly surpasses the Lucid Air Grand Touring's official WLTP range of 596 miles (960 kilometers) and beats the previous record by approximately 100 miles. The vehicle, equipped with a 112 kWh battery pack, demonstrated exceptional energy efficiency, achieving an impressive 5 miles per kWh, a figure notably higher than the typical 3 miles per kWh seen in many contemporary EVs. While strategic route planning, including a substantial 4,300-foot elevation drop and extensive use of regenerative braking, contributed to the extended range, it underscores Lucid's foundational engineering focus on aerodynamic design and lightweight components.
Lucid Motors, known for engineering and producing most of its powertrain components in-house, has consistently prioritized efficiency. The Air Grand Touring's performance validates the company's commitment to maximizing range and minimizing energy consumption. Furthermore, its advanced charging technology allows for the addition of 248 miles of range in just 16 minutes from an appropriate fast-charging outlet, mitigating concerns for drivers not undertaking ultra-long, single-leg journeys.
Currently, Lucid's vehicles, with prices ranging from $69,900 to over $169,000 in the U.S., cater to the premium segment. However, the company has announced plans to introduce a more affordable version of its Gravity SUV in the near future, based on a new midsize platform. This strategic move aims to bring Lucid's renowned efficiency and performance to a broader market, competing more directly with mainstream EV manufacturers like Tesla. The record serves as a powerful testament to the capabilities that could soon be more widely accessible, influencing future EV design and consumer expectations regarding range and charging convenience.