Lucid Motors has made history in the electric vehicle sector by achieving a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled on a single charge by an EV: 1,205 km (749 miles). The route ran from St. Moritz, Switzerland, to Munich, Germany, completed by the Lucid Air Grand Touring model, greatly surpassing the previous record.
The achievement was led by London entrepreneur Umit Sabanci, a hypermiling expert who had previously partnered with Lucid in a 2024 challenge that allowed him to cross nine countries in a single trip on one charge.
Record details and technical context
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Distance covered: 1,205 km, surpassing the previous record of 1,045 km by nearly 160 km.
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Route: from the Alpine capital of St. Moritz, with a net drop of around 1,300 m, which helped maximize regenerative braking.
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Driving conditions: a mix of alpine roads, secondary routes, and highways, likely at moderate speeds with energy optimization.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring delivers outstanding energy efficiency: a WLTP-rated range of 960 km, an average consumption of just 13.5 kWh/100 km, a power output of 831 PS (approx. 820 HP) and a top speed close to 270 km/h. It can also recover around 400 km of range in just 16 minutes of ultra-fast charging.
Technological innovation behind the record
This achievement is no accident: it highlights the cutting-edge electric architecture, based on a 900V+ structure, advanced battery management, and engineering designed for maximum efficiency with minimal loss. According to Lucid’s head of engineering, this record showcases the vehicle’s technological edge over premium competitors.
With this milestone, Lucid surpasses prototype models like the Mercedes EQXX (previous 747-mile record) and reinforces its identity as a leader in real-world range and efficiency across varied environments.
Impact and relevance for the automotive sector
Achieving such a range in real conditions brings several key implications:
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Reduced range anxiety: proves that modern EVs can rival combustion cars in long-distance travel without frequent recharging.
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Competition with Tesla and European brands: intensifies the race to exceed premium EV range, where Lucid now takes the lead.
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Brand value and perception: the record has clear marketing value, helping position the brand as a benchmark in electric innovation.
Even so, experts in Germany suggest the achievement may have limited everyday relevance, given the growing density of charging stations and ongoing infrastructure improvements. They attribute the record partly to favorable elevation and emotionally-driven route planning.
What’s next for Lucid?
Lucid plans to expand its lineup with the Gravity SUV, aimed at the mid-range segment, offering similar range with smaller batteries and lower costs. It’s also working to scale production at its Arizona plant and expand into key markets such as Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Sabanci’s involvement and track record in organizing extreme drives also carries symbolic value: it shows that today’s technology already enables extraordinary achievements in electric mobility—though it may require specific strategies and optimal conditions.
