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Tesla Model S 100D sets distance record on a single charge

It took 29 hours, averaging 25 mph.

Aug 7th 2017 at 11:15AM
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted awhile back that the 100-kWh Model S could be capable of over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a single charge "with the right tires." He was right, as a team from Tesla Owners Italy set a new record of 1,078 km (almost 670 miles) in a Model S 100D before running out of juice, doubling its EPA-estimated 335 miles of range.

It's a new world record for a production EV, beating the previous record of about 560 miles in a Tesla Model S P100D. The Italian team achieved this feat over the course of 29 hours, averaging about 25 miles per hour. The Model S was unmodified, apart from a set of low-rolling-resistance tires, and the drivers kept the air conditioning turned off. "The driving was made simple by the semi-autonomous driving system, which helped us to keep a constant speed in the middle of the lane," said Rosario Pingaro, one of the team's five drivers. The car consumed a total of 98.4 kWh of electricity.

The record was certified by a notary, who sealed the flap over the charging port before the drive began. Elon Musk took to twitter to congratulate the team at Tesla Owners Italy for its accomplishment, which, of course, makes Musk's product look good.


Obviously, hypermiling (especially of the record-setting variety) doesn't represent the way most people use their EVs, though many drivers do tend to be mindful of their efficiency. Just last week, we told you about Consumer Reports' range-testing finding that the Tesla Model S 75D fell short of its 259 miles of stated range, running out of energy at just 235 miles. The Chevy Bolt, on the other hand, exceeded its 238-mile rating by 12 miles. Consumer Reports hasn't yet tested the 100-kWh variants of the Teslas to see how their real-world range compares to their ratings.

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