Tesla Model S Owner To Beat Volvo’s Guinness World Record

A Tesla Model S owner in Germany aims to beat the Guinness World Record for the highest vehicle mileage.

Hansjörg von Gemmingen-Hornberg is driving 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) a day in his Model S to beat the legendary mileage record set by Irv Gordon’s 1966 Volvo P1800. Gordon was an American schoolteacher. He still holds the Guinness World Record for most miles driven in a single-owner car, logging 3.26 million miles before his death in 2018.

The Long Road to 3.26 Million Miles

According to CarUp, Hansjörg surpassed 250,000 kilometers (155,000 miles) in his Tesla Model S. He is determined to match Gordon’s feat by spring 2031. Hansjörg’s daily schedule starts with early-morning driving, followed by coffee with his wife while the Tesla Model S recharges in his garage. Hansjörg avoids public fast chargers because he believes they harm the battery. Instead, he relies on four to five carefully planned charging sessions each day.

His journey is as much about logistics as it is about driving. In just 250,000 kilometers, the Model S has required four battery replacements and 13 new electric motors. Despite the mechanical setbacks, Hansjörg presses on, fully aware that the challenge is a race against both distance and time. He has already logged 210,000 miles toward the goal.

A Record That Demands a Lifestyle

For Hansjörg, the quest for the record is more than a hobby; it’s a full-time commitment. The pace and planning rival a regular work schedule, with the added burden of managing the vehicle’s maintenance and charging routines. While Gordon’s Volvo P1800 now rests in the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden, Hansjörg’s Tesla remains in constant motion, racking up kilometers at a relentless rate.

If successful, Hansjörg will be the first to surpass Gordon’s legendary total with an electric vehicle, proving that modern EVs can achieve extraordinary feats of endurance, with proper maintenance.

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