Mercedes-Benz diesel-electric hybrid does 1,223 miles on one tank

In a non-stop trip from Africa to the United Kingdom, automotive writer Andrew Frankel and an unnamed relief driver covered 1,223 miles on a single tank of fuel in a Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, arriving at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 27 hours.

The epic drive was undertaken by Autocar, a British automotive magazine, and Mercedes in order to set new records and showcase the capabilities of the German company’s new diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. The trip covered two continents, four countries, and three time zones with a combined 228 bph of engine-motor power.

The challenge of driving from Africa to the UK was exacerbated by heavy rains, intense heat, rush-hour traffic, and dramatic elevation changes. But the car and its drivers got through it, proving the high efficiency of the hybrid.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.