The Vision EQXX squeezes a staggering 747 miles in less than 100 kWh

The Vision EQXX left Stuttgart, Germany, and headed for Silverstone in the United Kingdom with a single battery charge of less than 100 kWh, mostly at highway speeds, after which it completed several lane laps before ending at 1202 km (747 miles). That’s about twice what the Tesla Model S can do with the same amount of energy.

This is the second time this machine has exceeded the 1,000 km (621 mile) limit; in April, the EQXX headed south through the Italian Alps and finished near Marseille in southern France, 1,008 km (626 miles) later – with much left range in the battery, according to the team.

Traveling 747 miles in less than 100 kWh is an outstanding achievement. For reference, Our Next Energy made a similar 752-mile (1210 km) highway trip with the Tesla Model S last year using a modified 203.7 kWh battery. The average speed for this trip was 55 mph (88.5 km / h).

The EQXX reached an average low of 51.6 mph (83 km / h) – although there was a closure of the Autobahn near the start of its journey and the team left the air conditioning on for about 8 of the 14.5 hours of travel. And after hitting Silverstone, Formula E racer Nick de Vries took the wheel for 11 laps, bringing him to the maximum regulated limit of 87 mph (140 km / h) and generally gave him the fruit before he stopped in the pit lane. . So it seems obvious that under ideal conditions, the EQXX could really go a long way.

How does this car perform so efficiently, providing exceptional energy consumption of 8.3 kWh per 100 km? Well, there are about 117 solar panels on the roof, yes, but they are not connected to the drive – instead they charge an additional LiFePO4 battery that powers the lights, infotainment system, air conditioning fans and other gadgets in the cabin. Mercedes-Benz estimates that solar assistance adds a maximum of about 25 km (15 miles) per day in ideal weather conditions.

So it’s not the sun, it’s the rest of the car. And this research tool is designed with an obsessive focus on effectiveness. We broke down the technology behind Vision EQXX in detail back in January, but here’s the thing: it’s a little bit of everything.

Mercedes Benz

The car weighs 1,750 kg (2,858 lb) – less than half the weight of a Tesla Model S with similar battery capacity – thanks to weight reduction efforts everywhere, from silicon-rich battery anodes to carbon-reinforced composite materials from sugar cane and forged magnesium wheels with ultra low rolling resistance Bridgestone tires.

Naturally, aerodynamics play an important role, and the EQXX’s drag coefficient of 0.17 easily exceeds that of the Model S of 0.208, including very active eros, such as its retractable high-speed diffuser. And Mercedes-Benz says the 180 kW electric drive itself is also super efficient, losing minimal energy in heat loss, allowing it to operate with a compact and lightweight cooling system.

However, this is not a ruined hypermill – the cabin is very luxurious, including mood lighting and a colossal 47.5-inch infotainment display with 8K resolution and a suitable sound system, including speakers on the headrest and shaking bass seats.

Mercedes Benz

“The journey continues – even further, even more efficient! Once again, the VISION EQXX has proven that it can easily travel more than 1,000 km on a single battery charge, this time facing a completely different set of conditions in the real world. “As Mercedes-Benz strives to switch entirely to electricity by 2030, where market conditions allow, it is important to show the world what can be achieved in real terms through a combination of cutting-edge technology, teamwork and determination.” commented Marcus Schaefer, Member of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for development and supply, in a press release.

Source: Mercedes Benz