Electric car range: the 2026 ranking

Choosing an electric car is a bit like preparing for a long hike: you want to be sure you have enough energy to go far without ending up on foot. Good news, 2026 brought down a symbolic milestone: the 900 km WLTP mark. Here is the updated ranking, the official figures version by version, and above all the key to reading a claimed range correctly, because not all the figures going around are worth the same.

The dazzling rise of electric car range

From 211 km to more than 900 km in a decade

Ten years ago, the average official range topped out at 211 km. It reached 338 km in 2020, and many models today exceed 500-600 km.

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The 2026 model year marks a turning point: the Lucid Air Grand Touring reaches 960 km WLTP, and the restyled Mercedes EQS claims 925 km. Two levers explain this progress: the energy density of the cells, with the arrival of anodes combining silicon oxide and graphite, and the spread of 800-volt architectures, which improve efficiency as much as charging speed.

Reading the figures takes method

Here is the trap most comparisons fall into. A WLTP figure never exists "for a model": it exists for a specific version, with a specific wheel size, in a specific model year. The same car can show 614 km in rear-wheel drive on 18-inch wheels, and 519 km in all-wheel drive. Same name on the hood, 95 km apart.

Our ranking keeps, for each model, the most efficient version, based on manufacturer WLTP figures from July 2026.

Comparison of the longest-range electric cars in 2026

The WLTP ranking

Manufacturer WLTP figures recorded in July 2026, most efficient version of each model. Indicative prices before incentives, subject to change.

Two clarifications. The EQS 450+ 2026 model year opened orders on 14 April, but the first deliveries arrive in the second half of the year: range homologated, not yet delivered. And the ID.7 illustrates the version trap: 621 km in Pro, 709 km in Pro S, under the same commercial name.

A closer look at the range champions

Lucid Air Grand Touring: 960 km

The Lucid dominates with 960 km WLTP in its most efficient configuration, 817 km with the largest wheels. Its consumption of 13.5 kWh/100 km explains this performance as much as its 118 kWh battery. It holds the Guinness record for the longest trip on a single charge: 1,205 km in July 2025.

Mercedes EQS 450+: 925 km

The EQS restyled in April 2026 incorporates more than a quarter new components. Its battery rises from 118 to 122 kWh usable, and the 800-volt architecture pushes charging from 200 to 350 kW: up to 320 km recovered in ten minutes. The range gain reaches 13% over the previous generation.

BMW iX3 50 xDrive: 805 km

The first model of the Neue Klasse era, the iX3 shows 805 km for 108.7 kWh, with a drag coefficient of 0.24 remarkable for an SUV. It takes 400 kW on direct current: 309 to 372 km recovered in ten minutes. Named Swiss Car of the Year 2026.

Volkswagen ID.7: 621 to 709 km

The ID.7 keeps its status as a versatile tourer with a drag coefficient of 0.23. The Pro S version (86 kWh) reaches 709 km in fastback form, the Pro (77 kWh) 621 km. On the Nardò track, at a 29 km/h average, a production ID.7 Pro S covered 941 km at 9.2 kWh/100 km, a demonstration of efficiency, not to be confused with real-world use.

Hyundai Ioniq 6: 614 km

The Ioniq 6 owes its 614 km to its drag coefficient of 0.21 more than to its 77.4 kWh battery. Mind the version: this figure applies to rear-wheel drive on 18-inch wheels. In all-wheel drive, range drops to 519 km. Its 800 V architecture allows going from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes.

Kia EV6: 528 km

A technical cousin of the Ioniq 6 on the E-GMP platform, the EV6 shows 528 km in 77.4 kWh rear-wheel drive. Less aerodynamic, it makes up for it with 350 kW charging and a more contained price.

WLTP and real-world range: what the tests say

A structural gap, not a lie

WLTP measures range in the laboratory, at 23 °C, heating and air conditioning off. In mixed use, count on 10 to 25% less. On the motorway at 130 km/h, aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed: the gap climbs to 25-35%.

The Norwegian winter test: the real figures

The Norwegian automobile club NAF holds "El Prix" every year, the largest real-world range assessment in the world. The 2026 edition, the coldest ever recorded, measured 24 vehicles down to -32 °C.

Source: NAF / Motor, El Prix 2026 test, temperatures down to -32 °C.

The Lucid Air Grand Touring won this test with 520 km covered, well ahead of its runner-up (421 km). But the lesson lies elsewhere: the gaps range between 30 and 45% depending on the model, against about 30% in the 2024 edition. The MG6S EV, with only a 28.9% gap, takes the honesty prize: it is the one that best keeps its promise.

What trends for the future?

Charging, the new battleground

On the WLTP cycle, no car sold in Europe officially exceeds 1,000 km: the Lucid comes close with 960 km. Claims beyond that rest on the Chinese CLTC cycle, more permissive.

Range is no longer the only argument. With the 800 V architecture, charging becomes the real differentiator: 400 kW on the iX3, 350 kW on the restyled EQS. That is also why access to a network of Electra fast charging points counts as much as the figure on the spec sheet.

How to choose according to your needs

Range is not the only criterion

Premium models dominate the top of the table, but ask yourself the real question: when was your last 800 km trip in one go? If you drive mostly in town, 400 km is plenty. The calculation that matters is your real daily mileage, your options for charging at home or at work, and how often you make long trips.

Look at the charging power

A car able to take 200 kW or more saves precious time on long trips. Also check the network available on your usual routes: our per-kWh pricing is shown before each session, and you can locate our charging stations in real time from the app.

Practical tips to optimize range

Driving style and maintenance

Smooth driving is the key: anticipate traffic and let the car slow down gently, it takes the chance to recharge its battery. Also check tyre pressure: underinflation is range lost to friction.

Precondition the battery

In cold weather, a cold battery accepts charge less well and gives back less energy. Most recent vehicles automatically precondition the battery when a station is set as a destination in the GPS. Remember to use it: it is the move that makes the biggest difference in winter, both for range and for charging speed. Our Electra+ subscription also lets you cut the cost of each session.

Frequently asked questions about electric range

"Which electric car goes the furthest?"

The Lucid Air Grand Touring, with 960 km WLTP in its most efficient configuration. It leads the Mercedes EQS 450+ 2026 model year (925 km, deliveries in the second half) and the BMW iX3 50 xDrive (805 km).

"Can you trust WLTP figures?"

Yes, as a basis for comparison between models, provided you compare equivalent versions. But they are measured in the laboratory at 23 °C: count on 10 to 25% less in mixed use, and up to 35% on the motorway at 130 km/h. See them as a reference, not a promise.

"And in winter, how much do I lose?"

Below 0 °C, expect 20 to 30% loss: the battery loses efficiency and the heating draws power. The Norwegian El Prix 2026 test, run down to -32 °C, measured gaps of 30 to 45% in these extreme conditions. A heat pump and preheating clearly limit these losses.

"The 1,000 km, when is that for?"

Not on the WLTP cycle. The Lucid Air Grand Touring comes close with 960 km. Claims of more than 1,000 km rest on the Chinese CLTC cycle, more permissive, or on low-speed endurance tests that do not reflect everyday use.

"Does the battery lose range over the years?"

Yes, but far less than people think. Batteries keep most of their capacity for many years, and manufacturers guarantee it in black and white: generally 8 years or 160,000 km with at least 70% capacity retained. Mercedes even goes to 10 years or 250,000 km on the EQS.

"Why do I find two different figures for the same car?"

Because it is rarely the same version. Wheels, drivetrain and model year change the homologated figure: the ID.7 claims 621 km in Pro and 709 km in Pro S; the Ioniq 6 goes from 614 to 519 km between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. Always check the exact configuration.

Range is also the network

A 600 km car that recovers 300 km in ten minutes will take you further, faster, than an 800 km car that charges at a trickle. That is the whole point of the network. Our fast charging stations deliver up to 400 kW: the time for a coffee, and you are off again. Charge at the station, pay as if at home.

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Written by Nicolas, mobility expert at Electra