Let’s talk about something so impressive it’s almost ridiculous. An electric SUV, the Polestar 3, has smashed a Guinness World Record by covering 935.44 kilometers on a single battery charge. Yes, you read that right: an SUV, not some sleek sedan or hyper-efficient city car, but a big, luxurious beast that comes close to a thousand kilometers without ever needing a plug. This is the kind of feat that makes you wonder if we’ve finally arrived in the future, or if the Swedes have just figured out how to cheat the laws of physics.
The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor, to be precise, is the hero of this tale. No special tires, no aerodynamic trickery, no team of engineers turning the car into a rolling lab experiment. Just a standard production model, straight off the showroom floor, fitted with 20-inch Michelin Sport EV tires and a 111 kWh battery. All they did was drive. And drive. And keep driving. For nearly 23 hours, to be exact, at an average speed of 43 km/h. That’s hardly Formula 1 pace, but who cares when you’re setting a record that shuts up even the most die-hard petrolheads?
The journey took place on public roads in the United Kingdom, under varying weather conditions, including a few rain showers that didn’t exactly make things easier. Three drivers took turns every three hours, probably to avoid dozing off during this marathon. The result? A jaw-dropping consumption of 12.1 kWh per 100 kilometers, a figure so efficient it almost feels suspicious. For comparison, the official WLTP range of this Polestar 3 is 706 kilometers, which is already impressive for an SUV. But 935 kilometers? That’s the kind of range you’d normally expect from a diesel estate with a spare fuel can in the boot.
And here’s where it gets even crazier: when the onboard computer said the battery was at 0%, the Polestar 3 kept going for another 12.8 kilometers. That’s like your car telling you the tank’s empty, but you can still cruise to the next town. It proves once again that electric cars sometimes have more in them than they let on. It’s a bit like a marathon runner who, after crossing the finish line, jogs another lap around the stadium just to show off.
Of course, let’s be honest: this wasn’t a normal drive. Nobody’s going to cruise at 43 km/h on British backroads for 23 hours unless they’re chasing a record or stuck in an existential crisis. In real life, with motorway miles, the air conditioning cranked up, and a slightly heavier right foot, you won’t hit 935 kilometers. But that’s not the point. The point is that an electric SUV, a car that looks like it was built to haul families to ski holidays, is capable of such an insane feat. It’s a massive middle finger to anyone who still thinks EVs are only good for a trip to the supermarket.
Polestar has shown with this stunt that they don’t just make gorgeous cars – and let’s be real, the Polestar 3 is a stunner – but that they’re also dead serious about efficiency. Starting at €79,950, you get an SUV that pumps out 380 kW of power, hits 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, and has a range that can take you from Brussels to Berlin without stopping. Try doing that in a combustion engine without a pit stop at a fuel station.
This record isn’t just a win for Polestar; it’s a sign that the electric revolution is unstoppable. While other brands are still grappling with range anxiety, Polestar proves that with a smart approach and a beefy battery, you can go further than you ever dared to dream. And honestly? If an SUV can do this, what’s stopping us from driving around the world on a single charge?
For those now itching to get behind the wheel of a 100% electric car, check out our marketplace at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/. You’ll find a lineup of the best electric vehicles, ready to break your own records – or at least get you across the country without a worry.
