Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators provide a framework to create soft robots with excellent strength, speed, and versatility. Peano-HASEL actuators produce fast and powerful linear contraction and achieve a maximum strain of ~15%. However, skeletal muscle achieves ~20% strain on average. Here, high strain Peano-HASELs (HS-Peano-HASELs) are introduced that achieve linear contraction up to ~ 24%. We investigate a wide range of performance metrics for HS-Peano-HASELs constructed with different materials and geometries. Furthermore, HS-Peano-HASELs are used as a tubular pump, resembling the primordial heart of an ascidian. Additionally, a strain amplifying pulley system is introduced to increase the maximum strain to ~42%.
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