The new Ford Mustang Mach-E has set a Guinness World Record for efficiency in an electric car, averaging 10.52km per kWh on a 1,352km route between John o’ Groats and Land’s End.

The electric performance SUV was driven by BBC transport correspondent Paul Clifton, Fergal McGrath, and Kevin Brooker, who already hold petrol and diesel efficiency records between them. Setting off on 3 July and driving through the night to avoid congestion, the trio completed the trip in 27 hours at an average speed of around 50kph.

Remarkably, they stopped only twice to charge: first at a BP Pulse station in Wigan, Lancashire, and a second time in Cullompton, Devon. The two stops amounted to just 45 minutes spent plugged in. The Mustang Mach-E used here was the rear-wheel-drive Extended Range version with the 88kWh battery. By driving well within the car’s means, its effective range was boosted to more than 800km– significantly more than the 610km it achieves on the WLTP test.

To ensure the attempt was carried out safely, the Mustang Mach-E team was supported by the AA. The variant of the Mustang Mach-E used featured the larger 99kWh battery that powered a single electric motor positioned on the rear axle that developed 289hp and 416Nm. For some context, the smaller battery pack is a 75kWh unit that is paired to a 258hp electric motor and has a claimed range of 450km.