The Ford Mustang Mach-E has broken the world record for electric car efficiency after travelling at an average 6.54 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh) from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

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The record-breaking miles per kilowatt hour figure, confirmed by Guinness World Records, was achieved by Ford’s Mustang Mach-E team on 3-4 July 2021 on the 840 miles of Britain’s longest overland travel route.

The test vehicle was the rear-wheel drive extended-range Mustang Mach-E which features an 88kWh capacity battery; the record-breaking efficiency figure adds more than 120 miles to the car’s official 379-mile range, topping 500 miles.

The team included BBC transport correspondent Paul Clifton, Honda senior project engineer Fergal McGrath and Kevin Booker, IT systems and fleet officer at the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority – who already hold petrol and diesel economy records between them, gained at Fleet World’s longstanding MPG Marathon event and its spiritual successor, the WLTP Challenge.

The team required just two main charging stops en-route, carried out at Wigan, in North West England, and Cullompton, Devon, and equating to 45 minutes of time.

The record-breaking team members said: “This record is about demonstrating that electric cars are now viable for everyone. Not just for short urban trips to work or the shops, or as a second car. But for real-world use on long cross-country journeys. We’ve proved that, with this car, the tipping-point has been reached.

“The Ford Mustang Mach-E’s range and efficiency make it an everyday car for tackling unpredictable journey patterns. We did a full day’s testing totalling 250 miles and still had 45% battery charge on our return.”

Ford UK electrification manager Tim Nicklin, who received the Guinness World Record on behalf of the brand, said the new world record showed how range anxiety could become a thing of the past.

“The Mustang Mach-E’s efficiency minimised charging along Britain’s longest route and proved itself as a game changer,” commented Nicklin.

“Ford’s own Go Electric report on consumer perceptions reveals that the average range which the public thinks a fully charged electric car can travel is under 150 miles. If the Mach-E can achieve well over three times that distance in the hands of professionals, it can easily deliver its official ‘miles per tank’ to owners – and dispense with any previous range anxiety.”