Electric Car with 1600 km Range: Myth or Reality?

An electric car capable of traveling 1600 kilometers without recharging is what still makes many drivers dream, yet hesitant to switch to electric. But is this promise truly science fiction, or a technical reality that will soon be accessible? Between Mercedes prototypes flirting with 1000 km, Lucid Air's records, and CATL's announcements about batteries enabling 1500 km range, let's try to see things more clearly.

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Current Situation: What Can You Really Buy Today?

Let's start with the facts. In 2025, if you walk into a dealership to buy a new electric car, the most autonomous models on the market are still far from 1600 km. The Mercedes EQS 450+, considered the European benchmark in terms of WLTP range, offers 821 kilometers with its 107.8 kWh battery. An impressive figure that already allows crossing France without recharging, but we're still only halfway to the mythical target.

On the American side, Lucid Air is setting new standards with its Dream Range version, which announces 883 km according to the EPA cycle, or about 960 km in WLTP equivalent. This premium sedan exploits an 800V architecture and exceptional motor efficiency to maximize each kWh of its battery. BMW follows with its iX xDrive50 SUV and its 630 km WLTP, while Hyundai demonstrates that excellent range can be offered without exploding prices with its Ioniq 6, which reaches 614 km.

These current electric vehicles already represent a remarkable technical feat. They allow most long-distance trips with a single charging stop, radically transforming the electric mobility experience compared to the first models that struggled to exceed 200 km of real range.

Lucid Air Breaks the 1200 km Barrier: A Turning Point for the Industry

In July 2025, Lucid Motors achieved the feat of traveling exactly 1205 kilometers on a single charge with its Air Grand Touring model, a performance officially verified and certified by Guinness World Records. This wasn't a test on a closed circuit with ideal conditions, but a journey on open roads, with real traffic and altitude variations. The recorded average consumption of only 12.8 kWh/100 km demonstrates that vehicle efficiency plays a role just as important as battery capacity.

Peter Rawlinson, CEO of Lucid and former architect of the Tesla Model S, applied an obsessive approach to efficiency. Every component of the vehicle was optimized for this Guinness-verified record: the electric motor reaches 95% efficiency, the 900V architecture minimizes cable losses, and the drag coefficient of only 0.21 places the car among the most aerodynamic ever produced.

Mercedes didn't remain a spectator to these advances. Its Vision EQXX prototype demonstrated that it's possible to travel more than 1000 km on the German Autobahn, where high speeds drastically increase consumption. With an average consumption of only 8.7 kWh/100 km, this experimental vehicle sets new benchmarks in energy efficiency. Its 100 kWh battery, 30% lighter than a conventional battery of the same capacity, shows that innovation isn't limited to increasing battery size.

Technologies Promising to Push the Limits

24M Technologies and Volkswagen's Interest

In Massachusetts, startup 24M Technologies is quietly developing what could become the next generation of batteries for electric cars. Volkswagen didn't miss the opportunity, taking a 25% stake in this promising company. Their approach is based on three major innovations that could make the famous 1600 km a reality.

The Eternalyte technology completely rethinks cell chemistry to achieve unprecedented energy densities. Even more interesting is their ETOP (Electrode-to-Pack) system, which eliminates traditional intermediate modules. The cells are directly integrated into the battery pack, allowing for a 30% capacity gain in the same volume. But it's their Impervio technology that's generating the most buzz: this new type of separator could theoretically reach 1000 miles of range, or 1609 kilometers. Tests show 83% capacity retention after 500 full cycles, an encouraging result for future industrialization planned for 2026-2027.

CATL Bets on Three Complementary Approaches

Chinese giant CATL, which already supplies batteries for many Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes models, is simultaneously developing three distinct technologies to meet the range challenge. The first, called Freevoy Dual Power, proudly announces 1500 km range according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. In European WLTP conditions, this would correspond to about 1200 km, which remains considerable. This hybrid battery cleverly combines LFP and NCM chemistries to simultaneously optimize energy density, safety, and production costs.

The second innovation, second-generation Shenxing, tackles another crucial aspect: charging speed. With a record charging power of 1.3 MW, this battery would allow recovering 520 kilometers of range in just 5 minutes on a compatible station. Based on optimized LFP chemistry, this solution could make charging stops as quick as filling up with gasoline.

But CATL isn't stopping there. The company is also developing sodium-ion technology that could disrupt the market. Less dependent on critical raw materials like lithium, this alternative chemistry promises mass production as early as 2025. While the range remains lower than classic lithium batteries, the halved production cost and better cold resistance could appeal for urban vehicles and emerging markets. This technological diversification shows that the future of electric range doesn't rely on a single solution but on a portfolio of technologies adapted to different uses.

Technical Challenges to Reach 1600 km

Increasing the range of an electric car requires pushing the limits in several areas simultaneously. Battery energy density remains the main challenge. Lithium-metal chemistries promise a 40% improvement over current lithium-ion batteries, but their industrial production remains complex. Solid electrolytes, long presented as the miracle solution, still struggle to leave laboratories due to conductivity problems at room temperature.

The architecture of electric vehicles is also evolving. 800V platforms, already adopted by Hyundai for the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, as well as by Porsche for the Taycan, are gradually becoming the standard. These high-voltage systems reduce electrical losses by 15 to 20% while allowing ultra-fast charging up to 350 kW. Kia is following the same path with its EV6, while Mercedes is preparing to integrate this technology into its future models.

Aerodynamics has become an obsession for engineers. The Mercedes EQXX's drag coefficient of 0.17 represents a 30% improvement over a conventional sedan. Every detail counts: side mirrors are replaced by cameras, underbodies are perfectly smooth, and even wheels are optimized to reduce turbulence. Tesla is working on similar improvements for its next Roadster, aiming for a coefficient below 0.20.

The Paradox: Do We Really Need 1600 km Range?

The race for range raises an important question about the evolution of electric mobility. A battery capable of offering such range with current technologies would weigh about 1200 kg. To put this figure into perspective, that's the weight of an entire Renault Twingo. This extra weight would mechanically increase consumption by 20 to 25%, particularly in mountainous areas or during sporty driving.

The price of such a battery would exceed €40,000 at current kWh rates, making the vehicle inaccessible to most drivers. Not to mention the environmental impact of producing a battery of this size, which would require twice as much lithium, cobalt, and nickel as a standard model. Manufacturers like Volkswagen and Stellantis therefore prefer a more pragmatic approach with 77 to 85 kWh batteries offering 500 to 600 km of real range.

The rapid development of the fast charging network is completely changing the game. Europe already has 540,000 public charging points in 2025, but it's the dynamics that are impressive: 35% annual growth since 2020. In the United States, the total network now has 180,000 public chargers, with massive acceleration thanks to the infrastructure plan that aims for 500,000 chargers by 2030. Tesla still represents 60% of American fast chargers with its 20,000 Superchargers, but the progressive opening of this network to other brands is changing the landscape. In Europe, Tesla now represents only 30% of the fast charging network, a sign of a market that is rapidly diversifying with players like Electra gaining momentum. Our stations already allow recovering 400 km in just 20 minutes thanks to their 400 kW chargers.

A 1600 km Paris-Madrid-Barcelona Trip in Real Conditions

To concretely illustrate the feasibility of long trips in electric vehicles today, let's take the example of a 1600 km journey recently completed in a Hyundai Ioniq 6. This model, equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery and 800V architecture, perfectly represents the current state of the art without aiming for unrealistic ranges.

The trip starts from Paris with a full battery, offering about 500 km of range on the highway at 130 km/h. The first stop is Lyon after 465 km, arriving with 25% charge remaining. An 18-minute stop at an Electra station allows recovering 60 kWh thanks to an average power of 235 kW. This charge costs €23.40 with the Electra+ subscription, which is less than a diesel fill-up for the same distance.

The next stage to Barcelona requires a short 15-minute stop in Narbonne. Consumption remains stable despite altitude variations and high-speed sections. The vehicle's 800V architecture maintains high charging power even with a partially charged battery, a notable advantage over conventional 400V architectures. The final segment to Madrid is completed with a 20-minute stop in Zaragoza.

In total, this 1600 km journey is accomplished in 17 hours and 30 minutes, with only 53 minutes of cumulative charging time. The total electricity cost is about €85, which is less than half the fuel budget of an equivalent thermal vehicle. This experience demonstrates that long electric trips are already a practical and economical reality.

Realistic Timeline for 1600 km

Analyzing current developments allows us to outline a plausible timeline for the arrival of vehicles truly offering 1600 km range. Currently, the maximum available at dealerships reaches about 960 km with the Lucid Air. Tesla Model S Long Range and Mercedes EQS follow closely with WLTP ranges between 700 and 850 km depending on versions. The Guinness-certified 1205 km record set by Lucid shows that the 1200 km barrier has already been crossed in real conditions, but not yet in standard series production.

For 2026-2027, several manufacturers are announcing models approaching or exceeding 1000 km. NIO is preparing its ET9 with a 150 kWh semi-solid battery developed with WeLion. This technology, already tested for over 1000 km in real conditions, could mark an important step. Mercedes is working on integrating EQXX technologies into a production model, explicitly targeting 1000 km WLTP. On the Chinese side, BYD is developing its Yangwang U9 supercar with a 140 kWh battery and hypercar-level performance.

The 2028-2030 horizon could see the emergence of vehicles truly reaching 1600 km, but they will likely remain confined to the ultra-premium segment. Prices should range between €150,000 and €250,000 for these exceptional vehicles. More exotic projects like the Aptera, this ultra-efficient three-wheeled solar vehicle, also promise these ranges through a radically different approach, but their commercial viability remains uncertain.

The Smart Approach: Optimize Rather Than Maximize

The most pragmatic manufacturers have understood that the race for maximum range isn't necessarily the best strategy. Tesla continuously optimizes the efficiency of its Model 3 and Model Y, which consume about 14.7 kWh/100 km despite their high performance. Hyundai and Kia are betting on 800V architecture to combine fast charging and efficiency in their Ioniq and EV6 models. Volkswagen is developing its MEB+ platform to offer 700 km range without excessively increasing vehicle weight.

This approach, which prioritizes efficiency over brute capacity, has several advantages. Vehicles remain affordable, with prices contained between €40,000 and €60,000 for ranges of 500 to 700 km. The controlled weight preserves driving dynamics and pleasure. Reduced consumption helps limit usage costs and environmental impact. Charging times remain short thanks to reasonably sized batteries.

The example of the new Renault 5 electric perfectly illustrates this philosophy. With its 52 kWh battery offering 400 km WLTP range and a price below €30,000, it meets the real needs of most drivers without aiming for unnecessary records. Peugeot follows the same logic with its e-3008, offering up to 700 km with a 98 kWh battery, but also a more affordable 73 kWh version sufficient for most uses.

A Maturing Market

The development of the charging network is transforming the range issue. In China, the global leader with over 2.5 million public charging points, the network density already makes the question of maximum range obsolete. Major Chinese cities have an average of one charging point every 500 meters. Europe follows with 540,000 public points and a target of 3.5 million by 2030. The United States is catching up with a 50% annual growth in the number of fast chargers since 2022.

The rise of non-Tesla networks is also changing the game. Electra aims for 2200 stations by 2030 with its 400 kW technology, allowing for 400 km recovery in 20 minutes. This network diversification is gradually eliminating Tesla's historical advantage and democratizing access to ultra-fast charging.

Digital services are playing an increasing role in this transformation. The Electra app allows you to locate available stations, reserve your charging slot, and pay automatically. Route planners integrated into Tesla, Mercedes, or BMW vehicles automatically calculate optimal stops based on real consumption, traffic, and weather. This software intelligence transforms the user experience by eliminating range anxiety.

The Future Belongs to Intelligence

For the vast majority of drivers, this race for records remains anecdotal. A range of 600 to 800 km, combined with a dense and reliable fast charging network, already meets all practical needs. Current vehicles like the Ioniq 6, Model 3, or EQE already allow for worry-free long-distance travel with charging stops that naturally integrate into the travel rhythm.

The future of electric mobility isn't measured in maximum range kilometers, but in ease of daily use. Optimizing efficiency, developing infrastructure with 35% annual growth in Europe and 50% in the United States, and improving services are the real challenges. In this perspective, 1600 km range will probably remain a technological style exercise rather than a practical necessity. What's important isn't being able to travel 1600 km without stopping, but being able to do so simply, economically, and pleasantly. And with records like Lucid Air's, that's already a reality.