Rival electric cars often do less than their advertised maximum range because hills, braking, heating and air conditioning can all sap the battery. 

In the UK, the car industry has been lobbying for the Government to speed up the rollout of fast chargers. 

They would make electric cars a more attractive option for drivers who want to go on trips other than the commute and school run and to appeal to owners without a drive or garage where they can charge their vehicles.

Mercedes follows in the footsteps of Chinese carmaker GAC Group’s Axion LX Plus SUV, which it claims will be able to travel 626 miles and US startup Lucid’s 500-mile Air as carmakers offer options to solve the conundrum themselves.

The high cost of battery parts will probably make faster chargers the choice for most buyers. 

The average electric car is already about £10,000 more expensive than a petrol or diesel equivalent, mainly due to the cost of batteries. High capacities will be reserved for the luxury end of the market. 

Separately, Germany’s government said it may end subsidies for hybrid cars from next year to focus efforts on green energy and pure electric cars.

The government premium for electric car buyers will fall from €6,000 to €4,000 next year and €3,000 in 2024. It plans to end electric car subsidies by 2025.

The Greens have said ending hybrid subsidies would free up funds for expanding solar, wind and hydrogen power.