"Mercedes-Benz has taken its new Vision EQXX electric car more than 1,000km on a single charge, throwing down the gauntlet to Elon Musk’s Tesla.
The test drive from Germany through Switzerland to the Côte d'Azur in France used the electric power equivalent of just nine litres of petrol at a cost of about £14, the German car maker said.
Mercedes did not confirm whether the 620 mile trip was a record for a production car being driven in real world conditions.
Electric cars have been driven further, but they have often used non-standard power packs, special tyres or slow speeds to maximise mileage.
In 2017, five members of the Italian Tesla owners club took a Model S, which has an advertised range of up to 310 miles, for a 670 mile drive at an average speed of 25mph, using low rolling-resistance tyres, driving the car until it went flat.
Mercedes took the car over mountainous terrain and spent a spell cruising above 85mph on the German autobahn to show off the car’s real-world credentials. It arrived at the seaside with 15pc charge to spare."
