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Early modern electric cars had just about enough battery power to get you to work, but could get nowhere near the range a tank of fuel could bring. This caused the rise of range anxiety in electric car ownership, where drivers feel worried they may not be able to reach a charging point on battery power.
Yet this phenomenon is disappearing - modern electric cars have longer ranges than ever, and in this list we’re looking at the ones with the longest ranges you can get. Some of them can travel further than petrol cars on a single tank of fuel, and rapid charging is starting to take hold as well, so recharging doesn’t take long either.
Best electric cars to buy 2021
Of course filling up with electricity is often cheaper than topping up a fuel tank, especially if you charge overnight, so these new models with really long electric range are looking more appealing every day.
As more and more charging points crop up around the country, it will get easier to run an electric car, even one with a relatively short range. Yet if you want to be sure you can get from one side of the country to the other without having to stop, you can consider one of the cars we’ve listed below.
It’s worth remembering if you are considering an electric car that you will rarely drive for 300 or more miles without stopping. After all, the human body needs its own rest stops along the way, and that’s a great opportunity to charge up the car. Plus, on average most people don’t travel more than 30 miles a day, which is easily achievable even by the lowest-ranged electric cars.
Read on to find out more about the top ten longest-range electric cars you can buy. The figures shown below are all derived from the WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to be more representative of the range drivers will actually achieve in the real world than the old NEDC test.
The 10 longest range electric cars on sale now
10. Polestar 2 - 335 miles
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The Polestar 2 combines a bold and chunky design with some more familiar touches from sister brand Volvo, and although it is the brand’s first mainstream electric car, the Polestar 2 boasts a number of credentials that make it a real contender for even the most established EV manufacturers.
Buyers have the choice of either a single or twin motor setup, with the single motor long range with 78kWh battery option offering the highest range of 335 miles, while the standard 64kWh single motor offers up to 273, both of these models will accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds. If more power is what you require, the long range dual motor offers 408bhp, 298 miles of range and a reduced 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds.
In terms of specification, Polestar offers just one additional Performance pack to the already generous level of standard equipment. The extra kit is primarily focused on improving the driving characteristics of the car and includes Brembo brakes, Ohlins dampers and 20-inch forged alloy wheels, along with gold-coloured seat belts to match the colour of the brake calipers.
9. Volkswagen ID.3 - 336 miles
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The ID.3 was the first of what Volkswagen intends to be a long line of fully-electric models. Something of a successor to the e-Golf, this family hatchback offers competitive pricing, plenty of comfort and solid real-world range - with the highest claimed range of 336 miles being found in the ‘Tour’ trim with 77kWh battery.
Pricing for the ID.3 starts from around £27,000 after the government’s plug-in car grant, so it is one of the more affordable electric cars currently on the market, yet it does very well in standing out from its rivals. It is a very quiet and refined car to drive, with the suspension setup proving highly capable of ironing all but the harshest road imperfections. Standard equipment across the range includes LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, keyless start, climate control and heated front seats. Moving up the range brings options such as a panoramic sunroof, a rear-view camera and an upgraded audio system.
8. Tesla Model X - 360 miles
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Despite having a hefty SUV body and seating for seven, the Tesla Model X can return up to 360 miles on a single charge.
Only the Model X Long Range version is capable of this range, but the Plaid model only drops to 340 miles. With the Plaid’s rapid acceleration of 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, it certainly is impressive - especially for an SUV - but considering that the Long Range takes only 3.8 seconds, that isn’t exactly sluggish, either. Where one of the biggest differences between the two variants lies is with the price, with the Plaid commanding a £12,000 premium over the Long Range.
In terms of practicality, the signature lifting ‘Falcon’ rear doors allow easy access to the second and third rows of seats, but the general styling of the Model X renders it more of a crossover than a fully-fledged family SUV. As a result, the first two rows of seats provide a great amount of room for all passengers but the third row is only really suitable for children. As is to be expected with a Tesla, there is plenty of technology onboard to keep passengers entertained and aid the driver in a number of ways.
7. Tesla Model 3 - 360 miles
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The Tesla Model 3 was one of the most eagerly anticipated cars ever to hit the market, as it was billed as Tesla’s affordable electric car. In reality, while the ‘Standard Range Plus’ version starts from a not insignificant £41,000, the ‘Long Range’ version is even more expensive at over £48,000, with the range-topping ‘Performance’ starting close to £59,990.
Many will excuse the price tag as the Model 3 offers so much alongside its impressive range. A 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds in the Long Range model is enough to shame some serious sports cars and it also handles brilliantly for a practical family saloon.
6. BMW i4 - 367 miles
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The BMW i4 is an upcoming model that will provide buyers of the 3 Series an alternative that’s been designed with electric power in mind. The i4 eDrive40 uses one electric motor at the rear with 335bhp - so it can go from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. Yet thanks to the large 84kWh battery, it can drive for 367 miles on a single charge.
There’s also a higher-powered i4 M50 version, which has a two-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain with 537bhp and can go from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds. The battery is the same size, at 84kWh, but the M50’s range is 316 miles as a result of the extra performance and power.
5. Ford Mustang Mach-E - 379 miles
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The Mustang name is nothing short of legendary, so when Ford announced that the Mach-E - a fully-electric family SUV - was going to be a ‘Mustang’, it immediately placed a lot of pressure on the car to impress.
Although a very different car from its V8-powered namesake, the Mustang Mach-E is indeed impressive. Not only does it offer a large amount of space for family use but the entire range has well over 200 miles of real-world range, all the way up to a claimed 379 miles when fitted with the 88kWh battery and rear-wheel-drive setup. The range-topping GT inherits some of the traditional Mustang’s drag-strip credentials, too, with a 0-62mph time of just 3.7 seconds - although this isn’t quite as quick as some rivals. Selecting the ‘Untamed’ drive mode from the three available options also adds a fake V8 engine sound into the cabin - should that appeal to you.
Inside, the Mustang Mach-E feels a little more premium than some other Ford models, with standard kit including dual-zone climate control, a rear view camera, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, a 15.5-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display.
4. BMW iX - 380 miles
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The iX is BMW's flagship electric SUV and boasts a range figure of up to 380 miles in the top xDrive50 version. The lesser xDrive40 model has a range of 257 miles, however. Rapid charging tech should allow both versions to receive a 10-80 per cent top-up in around half an hour.
The iX is around five metres long, so it competes with some of the largest SUVs around - and there’s loads of space inside. This means it will compete with the Tesla Model X, and it even undercuts it on price with the xDrive50 costing £91,905 (the xDrive40 is significantly cheaper at £69,905).
Comfort-focused features such as air suspension, a plush interior and high ride height mean the iX isn’t likely to post incredible 0-62mph times but the large range figure is impressive enough for a large, heavy SUV.
3. Tesla Model S - 405 miles
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As the competition continues to get better, the car that cemented Tesla’s place in the electric car market, the Model S, has recently undergone a major update. With a headline range figure of 405 miles available with the Long Range model, the Model S is highly usable.
The range is just the start, though, as the Long Range Model S will sprint form 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds, keeping it well in the sights of top supercars. If for whatever reason that isn’t fast enough for you, the new Model S Plaid will bring this time down to an astonishing 1.99 seconds with its peak output of 1,020bhp - even if there are a lot of factors involved in order to achieve this kind of performance.
Technology is as plentiful as ever and the Model S retains its somewhat minimalist interior styling - the most obvious difference being the 17-inch touchscreen now being horizontal rather than vertical. Tesla’s Autopilot system is also available with the option of ‘full self-drive’ capability, but this is currently a £7,000 option and, naturally, carries some safety restrictions. Practicality is still a strongpoint of the Model S, too, with 894 litres of luggage space and plenty of space to comfortably seat 4 adults.
2. Mercedes EQE - 410 miles
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The Mercedes EQE is a recently-revealed all-electric saloon that works as the equivalent of the E-Class in the German brand’s range. It uses the EVA2 platform that’s shared with the EQS, and this allows for a large 90kWh battery in the announced EQE 350 model.
This means it has a range of 410 miles officially, using a single motor with 288bhp and 530Nm of torque mounted on the rear axle. The range is still pending homologation from WLTP but the large battery and slippery shape should mean it can remain among the longest-range EVs you can buy. Like with many next-gen EVs it has rapid charging that allows a 10-80 per cent charge in around half an hour, which in the EQE is a huge amount of range added.
1. Mercedes EQS - 485 miles
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The longest-range electric car currently on sale is also one of the newest: the Mercedes EQS. It’s a version of the brand’s S-Class flagship saloon, but it uses electric power only and has a deeply impressive maximum range of 485 miles in the EQS 450+ model.
This is thanks to a huge 107.8kWh battery pack and a very low coefficient of drag, so it’s slippery through the air and therefore efficient at speed. Even the more powerful EQS 580 4Matic has a range of 420 miles, more than the longest-range Tesla Model S - though it’s not as fast as that car from 0-60mph.
That’s not what the Mercedes is about, though - it’s all about luxury here, and the interior quality is unmatched. It’s packed with cutting-edge kit, including a new ‘Hyperscreen’ infotainment display that virtually covers the entire dashboard. It’s comfortable, fast and expensive - in short, one of the best electric cars you can buy.
Looking to cut on emissions and costs? Read our list of the cheapest electric cars on sale...
