The estimated maximum range for electric cars in the ID series was 85 km less than what road tests revealed
With 794 kilometers covered, the vehicle exceeded the most optimistic range expectations for electric cars
The new Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S has even surprised the engineers who designed it, significantly surpassing its class’s predicted maximum range for electric cars. The vehicle covered 794 kilometers on a single battery charge, well above the maximum range of 709 km expected under the WLTP cycle. The Volkswagen Switzerland team conducted the test with Felix Egolf, an expert in long-distance driving with electric vehicles, behind the wheel. The ID.7 traveled on public roads in regular traffic, with a net driving time of 15 hours and 42 minutes.
The route, approximately 81 km long, wound through the Zug region, south of Zurich, and included main roads, highways, and hilly stretches. Eight different drivers took turns behind the wheel to complete the 794 km over two consecutive days. The average consumption was impressively low: 10.3 kWh per 100 km, compared to the 13.6 kWh WLTP figure, which is the most efficient value for this model. In terms of fuel consumption, this is roughly equivalent to 1.1 liters of diesel per 100 km.
The car was not even in its most efficient configuration. It included optional packages such as the Comfort package, the IQ.DRIVE assist package, and a heat pump. According to WLTP calculations, the configuration used during the road test should not have exceeded 700 km.
The team partially attributes this difference to the good aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.23. This value helps the ID.7 Pro S remain one of the most efficient models in the Volkswagen lineup. For long trips, the vehicle offers a useful Electric Vehicle Route Planner, which optimizes the route based on the remaining charge and the location of charging stations. With fast charging at 200 kW, it takes just 10 minutes to get enough energy to drive another 244 km.
