As part of a plan to set a new world record for the longest distance covered on a single charge in a mass-produced electric vehicle (EV), Miko Marczyk, a Polish rally driver, used an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron to drive at speeds greater than usual in Poland.
The entire trip lasted over 45 hours and began in Krakow (Poland) and ended in Poland’s Baltic coast. During the course of the trip, Marczyk drove over 1,338 km (831 miles) on a single charge.
The world record attempt began at 1:55 am on September 11 in Poland. Marczyk drove on ordinary public roads as opposed to restricted testing facilities.
The first stop was Krakow followed by Sandomierz, Warsaw, Torun, and Grudziadz before making it to Hel, Poland located on the Baltic coast. Marczyk traveled along this route in order to return to the center of Poland.
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron stopped somewhere between Torun and Ciechocinek after having driven 1,338 km on a single charge.
Audi stated that the average temperature throughout the trip was approximately 15°C; however, temperatures dropped to as low as 7°C around sunrise.
The trip was conducted under both normal and rush hour traffic conditions, which means that this test was unlike any laboratory test.
Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Traveled Farther Than Its WLTP Rating
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron traveled further than what it had been rated for based upon the WLTP test.
According to Audi, the maximum range for the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron is 777 km according to the WLTP test cycle.
Marczyk’s 1338 km journey was therefore approximately 561 km longer than what the manufacturer had officially rated the vehicle’s maximum range.
Approximately 72% farther than the 777 km WLTP rating.
Comparisons should not be made in regard to thinking that it is commonplace for Audi A6 Sportback e-tron owners to obtain 1,338 km of driving range. WLTP ratings are generated from standardized testing methods.
However, Marczyk’s attempt at generating a new record was done using a very disciplined driving method, thus minimizing the amount of fuel used. Consumption rates of 7.09 kWh/100km are the deciding factor.
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Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Performance Was Used For The Record Attempt
An Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Performance was utilized for the record-breaking attempt.
A new record was attempted to be generated for distance traveled using a fixed amount of energy. Reducing aerodynamic loss will greatly increase travel distance.
Miko Marczyk drove in an organized fashion. The record was not simply created by driving the Audi until it ran out of power.
Instead, Marczyk drove the journey in order to increase efficiency. He identified several factors that contributed to decreasing energy consumption, including having knowledge of vehicle driving modes/systems, using regenerative braking effectively, keeping tires inflated properly and predicting future traffic patterns.
Smooth driving is also a vital aspect of his strategy. Accelerating quickly or braking abruptly will decrease the amount of energy required to continue moving forward.
Small gains in efficiency on a lengthy trip (over 45 hours) will result in savings of time/money/fuel etc., over an extremely wide area.
The resulting average consumption of 7.09 kWh/100 km indicates how low the vehicle’s energy consumption could be if it were driven with the sole objective of maximizing its range.
Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Record Was Established On Public Roadways
A new record has been established on public roadways.
The record-breaking attempt was made on public roadways throughout Poland instead of on a closed course. Marczyk routinely encountered traffic on his commute, with some days encountering heavier traffic during rush hour.
Changes in traffic density caused the Audi to operate in a completely different environment than that of a laboratory test.
The trip began on September 11, at some point in time (it is uncertain when), and lasted over 45 hours prior to battery depletion.
The car came to a complete stop somewhere between Torun and Ciechocinek after having traveled 1,338 km.
Audi A6 Sportback e-tron With A 94.9 kWh Battery
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Performance is powered by a battery with 100 kWh gross capacity and 94.9 kWh net capacity.
Audi designed the battery for their PPE Architecture and subsequently designed it to be used in an 800V Electrical System.
With the use of appropriate high-output charging equipment, the A6 Sportback e-tron can accept up to 270 kW of energy.
Audi claims that a ten-minute charge will provide an additional 310 km of range, provided that conditions exist allowing for charging of your vehicle.
Charging data is irrelevant to the Guinness Record attempt of how long a vehicle can operate on a single charge.
The 831-Mile Run Was Not The Longest Overall EV Run
The longest distance a vehicle has traveled on a single charge of its electric battery is currently the record; however, the 831 mile run was not the longest-distance EV run.
This 1,338 kilometer journey set an official Guinness World Record for the longest distance ever traveled in a production electric vehicle, although several other production electric vehicles have gone further than that on one charge.
Guinness World Records lists the overall record for distance covered by an electric car in a single charge – excluding those powered by solar energy – as 2,573.79 kilometers (1,599.27 miles).
The TUfast Eco Team of Germany set a new record for this event in September 2023 when they drove their vehicle, muc022.
The car was a prototype created solely for this project by students and not a mass-produced road car.
The distinction is significant because the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron used by Marczyk to establish a new record is an off-the-shelf production car from Audi’s standard model range.
Audi’s Records and How They Relate to EV Efficiency
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron has demonstrated through its record-setting performance just how much difference exists between the real-world usable range of an electric vehicle (EV) and the rated official range of that same electric vehicle.
While its certified WLTP distance is rated at a maximum of 777km, Marczyk was able to travel 1338km in the vehicle.
The record utilized very little energy, drove smoothly, had to use regenerative braking cautiously, and manage its available energy effectively.
Audi’s endeavors in aerodynamics also played a significant role. The A6 Sportback e-tron’s 0.21 drag coefficient will enable it to consume less energy than other cars when moving through the air (or, in other words, decrease its aerodynamic drag).
The results do not impact the official range of the vehicle; however, they illustrate how much impact driving conditions and techniques have on actual energy usage of an electric vehicle in everyday scenarios.
The Audi A6 Sportback e-tron has established a new high point in the history of production EVs. Traveling 1,338 kilometers (831 miles) in his Audi A6 Sportback e-tron, Miko Marczyk set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered in a single charge of a mass-produced electric car.
On public streets in Poland, the vehicle traveled further than the top WLTP range (777 km) by more than 500 km; therefore, establishing a new record for distance traveled under electrical power alone.
The greatest discovery from the record attempt was the average energy consumption per 100 kilometers throughout the entire journey (7.09 kWh/100 km). This example demonstrates how efficiently an electric vehicle can be driven to determine how far it can go.
This EV has a usable battery capacity of 94.9 kWh, a very low drag coefficient of 0.21, regenerative braking, and 800-volt electrical architecture. The record does not show if the typical range of an Audi A6 Sportback e-tron is 831 miles.
Unlike other models, the production vehicle has demonstrated its capabilities through exceptionally conservative and range-oriented driving.
