New electric distance record: Polestar 3 reaches 935 kilometers

One of the barriers facing electric vehicle buyers is range. They know that WLTP measurements are inaccurate and that the distances approved by manufacturers are almost always more optimistic than the actual range.

Therefore, electric car brands are working hard to prove their products surpass these standards and convince skeptics to buy their electric vehicles. Polestar is one of these brands, and the latest to break a distance record on a single charge.

His Polestar 3, in the Long Range single-engine variant, was responsible for traveling 935.4 kilometers without recharging. The feat took place in England, over a period of nearly 23 hours, with three drivers—Sam Clarke, Kevin Booker, and Richard Parker—taking turns every three hours to maintain concentration.

The figures are impressive: when the car reached its approved WLTP range (706 kilometres), it still had 23% of its battery life left, and once it reached 0%, it was still able to travel 20 kilometres further.

According to Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller, "We are very proud to say that we have a world-record-holding member of the Polestar family. This official Guinness World Record for range is further proof that Polestar 3 is setting new standards. We will continue to push the boundaries of electric technology and performance."

Matt Galvin, Managing Director of Polestar UK, added: “While drivers pushed the Polestar 3 to the limits of its range capability, this demonstrates how exponentially battery range has improved over recent years. For a full-size premium SUV to easily exceed the distance from London to Edinburgh is truly impressive and definitively puts to rest the old idea that 'electric cars can't go far'.”

Of course, achieving fuel consumption of this kind requires resorting to extreme strategies that a driver wouldn't employ in their normal driving style: no air conditioning, no radio, no electricity consumption, and a constant, low speed. Clearly, all three drivers are experts at this type of driving.

Unveiled in late 2022, the Polestar 3 is a five-seat SUV based on Volvo Cars' SPA2 platform and powered by Nvidia technology. It is manufactured for the European market in Chengdu, China. Its direct rivals are the BMW iX and the Audi Q8 e-tron. It is available with single- or dual-motor configurations and power outputs of up to 380 kW (517 hp) and 910 Nm (550 lb-ft). Its dual-chamber air suspension offers 250 mm of ground clearance for off-road adventures.

It features elements such as front and rear spoilers and rear fins that improve efficiency and give it a modern design. The interior features a wealth of recycled plastics and aluminum, as well as fabrics such as the bio-based MicroTech, made from pine oil instead of petroleum.