The new Volkswagen ID.3 has set its first range record: The electric car covered the 531 kilometres (330 miles) from Zwickau to Schaffhausen (Switzerland) on a single charge. Officially, the model has a range of up to 420 kilometers (261 miles, WLTP). This mark was topped by more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) – an increase of 26 percent.

The vehicle was a series production ID.3 1^st Pro Performance with a 58 kWh battery built at the Zwickau electric car factory. The route to Switzerland consisted entirely of public roads and highways, passing cities such as Bayreuth and Ulm. The record-breaking vehicle was driven by “hypermiler” Felix Egolf, a native of Switzerland. The term “hypermiling” originated in the USA and refers to driving a series production vehicle with techniques that maximise efficiency and minimise consumption.

“This car has everything, it is compact but spacious, has a cool, almost futuristic design and a low drag coefficient”, Egolf said after arriving in Schaffhausen.

“With its high-volt battery, efficient drivetrain and fast charging capability, even long journeys are not a problem”, said Reinhard de Vries, Managing Director Technology and Logistics at Volkswagen Sachsen. “This is also a strong message for the team in Zwickau and for the entire ID. team.”