Electric Renault travels 1000km on single charge

0 0 January 06, 2026 Edit this post

Renault has succeeded in getting more than 1000km out of an electric vehicle.

The first attempt was scheduled in October, but was called off at the last minute due to bad weather.

However, the team finally pulled off the feat on December 18 at the UTAC test track in Morocco.

The idea was to cover more than 1000km on a single charge, in less than 10 hours which included technical stops and driver changes.

The Renault Filante Record concept car was powered by a regular 87kWh battery like the one in Scenic E-Tech electric and the three drivers were tasked with keeping it to an average speed of more than 110km/h.

Organisers said if the only goal had been to drive the longest possible distance between charges, designers and experts could have fitted the car with a huge battery -- or driven it in Eco mode at 30km/h on average.

Rising to this challenge entailed pushing every efficiency lever as far as it would go – maximising aerodynamics, minimising weight and optimising materials.

Renault will be showing a three-episode mini series documenting the project, with a full immersion in the Filante Record 2025 story and its journey to setting the new electric-efficiency record.

The car designed to break the record had to be purpose-engineered as well as iconic.

Designers combined striking looks with Renault's lineage, drawing inspiration from the brand's models that have set records for efficiency, speed and endurance to create a car that bridges yesterday and tomorrow.

Beneath its all-new ultraviolet-blue finish, Filante Record 2025 pays homage to the record-breaking 1925 40 CV.

It also gives a nod to the 1956 Étoile Filante, while weaving in hallmarks from the world of aviation.

The protective bubble over the cockpit hints at a fighter jet and the driver's position is modelled after a Formula 1 single-seater.

The single principle that guided Filante Record 2025's design and development was to maximise efficiency and minimise electricity consumption.

"The overarching goal, from the first sketches to the final test-track drive, was absolute efficiency," Chief Designer, Sandeep Bhambra, said.

"That's the hallmark of a record-breaking car – and it mirrors Renault's pioneering spirit and tradition since its inception in 1898.

"A lot like the 1925 40 CV and the 1956 Étoile Filante, Filante Record 2025 was engineered to become the first roadworthy car to drive 1000km at over 100 km/h without recharging, with an 87 kWh battery exactly like the one powering Scenic E-Tech electric.

"This accomplishment took a lot of exacting work on several fronts – ultra-efficient aerodynamics of course, the low-rolling-resistance tyres, the lightweight materials (including carbon fibre and 3D-printed aluminium components) and advanced technical features (steer-by-wire for instance).

"Teams of experts from Renault and its partners Michelin and Ligier worked on every aspect of Filante Record 2025's design to demonstrate that electric vehicles can now travel long distances without recharging, even at sustained speeds."

Renault Filante Record 2025 is a lab on wheels showcasing several innovative features for the first time:

All-electronic steering and braking systems (steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire), which open up more architectural possibilities while reducing weight.
Extensive use of ultra-light materials (carbon fibre, aluminium alloys, 3D-printed Scalmalloy).
Optimal component shapes and patterns (to only use materials where required).
Custom-engineered Michelin tyres offering low rolling resistance and enhancing aerodynamics.

The Filante covered 1008km in less than 10 hours, at an average speed of 102km/h, with energy consumption of 7.8 kWh/100km.

At the finish it still had 11 per cent battery capacity remaining, which would have allowed it to travel an additional 120km at speeds over 100km/h.