A Swiss firm called Futuricum, which built a Volvo-based delivery truck, owns the world record for the longest distance traveled by an electric truck on a single charge. On June 12, 2021, the truck was able to travel 683 miles on a closed test track. The truck has been on the road making deliveries since early 2021. However, a test track served as the location of the record. 392 laps around an oval track for two different drivers, who shared shifts and switched every 4.5 hours. The total 683-mile run took 23 hours, with an average speed of 31 mph. Here are more details about the Futuricum electric truck that set the Guinness range world record.

What kind of truck can do that?

The truck’s battery pack is a 680-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion. It can produce a whopping 680-horsepower, falling just short of cars like the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, at 717 horsepower. The company did not specify whether or not the truck was carrying anything. We assume the truck is empty, though if it were full of cargo this record would be even more impressive.

Driving on a closed track is obviously very different than driving on a public road. This truck is electronically limited to about 55 mph, and on an average day would average 250 miles on a single charge. Futuricum created the truck that set the record by converting a Volvo FH to an electric drive. According to the company using the truck every day for delivery purposes, this electric truck has been running a hill-covered, mountainous 186-mile route every day for six months without any problems.

What is Futuricum?

Futuricum is an engineering company that specializes in building commercial vehicles with low or zero emissions. Its website features rapid chargers, which allow owners to charge their vehicles anywhere and anytime. The powerful chargers are highly transportable and can charge up to 88kW. Next, Futuricum claims it will build a custom E-truck weighing 18-44 tonnes, with a range of up to 760 kilometers. Fleet companies can hire Futuricum’s experts to fulfill their sustainability needs by upgrading their vehicles to fully electric trucks. Finally, the company offers batteries. There is a multitude of options available on the battery page. Futuricum calls its batteries “scalable, maintenance-free, and long-lasting lithium-ion battery system produced by the firm Batteriewerk.”

What are the records for other electric vehicle types?

The record of 683 miles set by this electric truck is impressive, but how does it compare to records for other vehicle types? The Guinness World Record for the greatest distance traveled on an electric-motorized bicycle in a single charge is nearly 229 miles. The record was set in Klev, Ukraine in 2017 and still stands today.

The Guinness World Record for greatest distance traveled by an electric vehicle on a single charge is over 999 miles. This record also took place in 2017 and was completed at Auto Club Motor Speedway in Fontana, California by IT Asset Partners, Inc. Named “The Phoenix”, the vehicle is made from 90% recycled consumer eWaste to demonstrate “Hybrid Electronic Recycling”.

In August 2001, Thames Electric Launch Company set the record for distance traveled on a completely electric boat with 137 miles. On the River Thames between Wallingford, Oxon, and Goring, Berks, UK, the boat traveled nonstop on a single charge for a total of 30 hours.

This remarkable achievement by Futuricum and everyone else involved proves the capability of electric vehicle technology. A truck of this size traveling so far leaves few excuses to continue driving gas-powered vehicles. DPD Switzerland claims it is capable of handling hilly and rough terrain, which makes these trucks far better than their alternative. Trucks of this size traveling 683 miles can maximize efficiency and cost for companies who use commercial vehicles like the Volvo-based Futuricum electric truck.