VW ID.7 Pro S Beats Range Anxiety, Does 493 Miles On Single Charge

One of the criticisms often leveled against electric vehicles is their limited driving ranges compared to ICE vehicles. However, VW has shown that the latest ID.7 Pro S can travel almost 497 miles (800 km) on a single charge, meaning it’s not only suitable for urban driving but can also be used for long road trips.

The VW ID.7 Pro S sold in Europe has an official WLTP combined range of 440 miles (709 km), but the team from VW’s Swiss division recently set out to show that estimate is a little conservative. They partnered with expert hypermiler Felix Egolf and drove an ID.7 Pro S for 493 miles (794 km) on a single charge.

Read: VW Puts ID.7 US Launch On Ice As EV Sales Cool

This wasn’t a test conducted on a private track, either. Instead, over a period of 15 hours and 42 minutes, VW’s sleek electric sedan repeatedly drove around a 50-mile (81 km) loop in the Zug metropolitan area south of Zurich. This route included sections of motorways and country roads with hilly areas. The car averaged just 10.3 kWh / 100 km, which, VW says, is the equivalent of a diesel vehicle sipping just 1.1 liters of fuel per 100 km (213 U.S. mpg).

The car averaged 32 mph (51 km/h) during the journey and was driven by eight different drivers over two consecutive days. VW finished the test when the ID.7 Pro S said it had just 1.2 miles (2 km) of range left. According to the carmaker, the specific ID.7 used wasn’t the most efficient variant available, as it was equipped with the Comfort package, IQ.Drive assist systems package, Plus exterior package, and a heat pump, reducing its claimed WLTP range from 440 miles (709 km) to 435 miles (700 km).

European versions of the ID.7 Pro S are fitted with an 86 kWh (91 kWh gross) battery that supports peak DC charging speeds of up to 200 kW. Lesser versions of the model have a slightly smaller 77 kWh battery but are still said to be good for 382 miles (615 km) of range on a charge.