How far can it go on a single charge? That was the question two Škoda employees involved in the development of the new Peaq SUV set out to answer. They took the wheel of the seven-seat version and hit the road; setting out on a journey that ultimately covered a record-worthy 936 kilometres.

Marek Jež and Jakub Krs believed the Peaq could exceed its WLTP range figure. The WLTP methodology is defined by legislation and is designed to simulate vehicle use as closely as possible to real-world driving conditions. Marek and Jakub decided to take a different approach.

“Our goal was to demonstrate the capabilities of the technology at the very limit of its potential. To achieve the maximum possible range, we carefully selected the most suitable route and, naturally, an appropriate driving style,” says Jakub Krs. When he is not driving the Peaq on record-range attempts, he serves as Chief Battery Officer for the model. “An average user would probably never drive the car this way. Instead, they would make full use of the Peaq’s dynamic performance, onboard infotainment and comfort features,” adds fellow driver Marek Jež, who is responsible for the Peaq programme as Project Leader.

They chose the Netherlands as the destination for their record attempt. The route from Mladá Boleslav, where the Peaq is produced at Škoda’s main manufacturing plant, passes through Germany. The journey was deliberately planned along secondary roads with lighter traffic, and AI also helped them find the best option. Reaching Amsterdam, approximately 850 kilometres away, would already have been considered a major success. At the start, however, Jakub was even more optimistic, believing that the 900-kilometre mark might be within reach.

The vehicle used for the attempt was a standard-production Škoda Peaq 90 equipped with a 91-kWh traction battery (86 kWh net), a 210-kW electric motor, rear-wheel drive, 19-inch wheels and production low rolling-resistance tyres. Before departure, it received one additional modification: the charging port flap was sealed. The drive was officially monitored by certification authority TÜV Süd, while representatives of the Czech Book of Records were also eager to see the outcome.

Marek, Jakub and the Peaq set off from Mladá Boleslav at noon on Tuesday, 25 August. Initially, the two drivers took turns behind the wheel roughly every two hours, later, especially during the night, they switched more frequently.

From the Czech Republic, the Peaq headed into Germany, specifically the region of Saxony. The route frequently ran alongside fields of sunflowers, while tree-lined roads accompanied much of the journey. The Spree River meandered alongside the road, and the Peaq and its crew also crossed the Elbe River.

Half of the battery capacity had been used between the German cities of Braunschweig and Hanover. By then it was already dark. The Peaq continued at a largely consistent speed, a crucial factor in achieving low energy consumption. “Smooth driving at a constant speed is one of the key conditions for achieving maximum range,” both drivers agree. This involves more than simply maintaining a set speed. It also means avoiding hard acceleration, which consumes large amounts of energy, as well as heavy braking or coming to a complete stop, all of which require additional energy to regain speed afterwards. Balancing these requirements with the realities of traffic conditions across three countries proved to be the greatest challenge of the entire journey.

The final result was also influenced by the use of regenerative braking, through which electric vehicles can recover part of their energy. However, if regeneration is set too aggressively, it can effectively slow the vehicle unnecessarily, resulting in less energy being recovered than is required to maintain cruising speed.

In the early hours of the morning, the crew took a short rest break. After sunrise came the crossing from Germany into the Netherlands. Alongside the roads appeared increasing numbers of traditional brick houses and, naturally, cyclists, whose numbers in Dutch cities during the morning rush hour are considerable. The crew had to rein in the optimism they’d gained from the night drive. “750 kilometers behind us, 170 to go,” Marek and Jakub reported. But driving in city traffic with intersections and traffic lights literally drains the battery’s energy. It’s the exact opposite of smooth cruising.

Longer, flat stretches outside cities once again reduced energy consumption, improving the outlook for the remaining distance. The situation became so promising that, during another stop – this time at a Škoda dealership in Amersfoort – Marek and Jakub began discussing an extension to the planned route. “Instead of stopping in Amsterdam, let’s drive all the way to the sea,” they agreed. That decision added approximately 50 kilometres to the original plan.

The final percentage points of battery charge, originally charged in Mladá Boleslav, were consumed along the coastal road near the beaches of Zandvoort. On the opposite side of the road, grandstands from the previous weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix were still being dismantled. By Wednesday afternoon, Marek and Jakub knew they had achieved their goal. They had covered 936 kilometres and recorded an energy consumption figure of just 9.2 kWh/100 km. This represents not only the longest distance ever recorded for a Peaq SUV and electric seven seater SUV in general, but also an officially recognised Czech record in the category of Longest distance travelled by an electric vehicle on a single charge.

When the vehicle was finally connected to a charger after the record run, both drivers admitted that the Peaq had exceeded their expectations. Neither had anticipated such low energy consumption or such an impressive range before the journey began. They were also surprised by the level of interest from colleagues, who followed the attempt through a live online data feed from the vehicle. “They were chatting with us throughout the drive and logging back in again first thing in the morning,” says Jakub, adding that many of them were also placing bets on the final distance achieved.

When asked for additional advice on efficient driving, both drivers return to the lessons learned during their record-worthy journey. “The weather helped us as well,” Marek acknowledges. “In rain and on wet roads, we would never have achieved such a result.” “And I’d recommend bringing some entertainment into the car,” Jakub adds with a smile, recalling the many hours spent behind the wheel.