The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX sets efficiency record – over 1,000 km on a single battery charge and ... [+]
If you were to switch from your internal combustion engined car to an electric vehicle, what would be an acceptable amount of range? Would 400 kms be enough? How about 600 kms? Mercedes-Benz has just announced a world-beating efficiency in real-world driving of 1,000 kms (621 miles) on a single charge by its one-off Vision EQXX concept car.
On Tuesday, April 5, the all-electric EQXX left Germany, drove for 12 hours non-stop on one charge, across the Swiss Alps, and arrived in France with 140 km of range still left in its battery pack, according to Mercedes. It shows what is possible when state-of-the-art lightweight materials, a slippery body design, advanced battery technology, an F1-inspired electric motor setup, and aerodynamic tires are combined into the one vehicle.
Traveling from Sindelfigen near Stuttgart to Cassis on the Cote d’Azur, the journey took the team from Germany to Switzerland, then through Italy past Milan and finally onto the port town of Cassis near Marseille in the south of France. The EQXX was driven on normal roads ranging from highways to mountain passes, including roadworks, and even included a stint up to 140 km/h or 87 mph. According to Mercedes, the battery pack’s state of charge on arrival in France was about 15%, amounting to a remaining range of around 140 km, and an average consumption of a record-breaking low of 8.7 kWh per 100 kilometers.
On the German Autobahn the car cruised at 87 mph on its way to the world record for EV range.
“We did it! Powering through more than 1,000 kms in real world driving with ease on a single battery charge,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “The Vision EQXX is the most efficient Mercedes ever built. The technology program behind it marks a milestone in the development of electric vehicles.
Boasting a surprisingly low Cd value of 0.17 for a road-legal car—with a number around 0.20 considered aerodynamically sound—the EQXX is packed with innovations that enabled it to achieve the world-record range.
It starts with the basic teardrop body shape that features a smooth-surfaced greenhouse-shaped cabin that flows like a droplet towards the rear of the car. Equally beneficial to the aerodynamics are the small frontal area of 2.12 m2 and the reduced rear track. With the rear being 50 mm (2 inches) narrower than at the front, the rear wheels roll in the slipstream of the front wheels. The active rear diffuser, which automatically deploys at 60 km/h, provides better airflow and thus contributes significantly to the reduced drag.
The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX employs F1 electric motor technology.
Looking somewhat like a futuristic aerodynamic Aston Martin DB5, especially at the rear end, the EQXX also benefited significantly from its bespoke Bridgestone tires, with their extremely low rolling resistance rating of 4.7. Co-developed with Mercedes Benz, the Japanese tire maker created a unique 185/65 R 20 97 T Turanza eco tire boasting large diameter and narrow tread that helps the car to slice through the air and generate the record-breaking range.
The EQXX’s lightweight design concept is revolutionary – from the materials used to innovative bionic structures that deliver a impressive power-to-weight ratio. Examples of this are the sustainable carbon-fiber-sugar composite material used for the upper part of the battery, which is also used in Formula 1.
A large part of the weight efficiency is also due to the dedicated electric chassis with lightweight F1 subframe and aluminum brake discs. Another is the battery. At 100 kWh, the power storage unit developed specifically for the VISION EQXX has almost the same amount of energy as the battery of the EQS. However, it has 50 percent less volume and is 30 percent lighter. The resulting compact battery is also comparatively light at 495 kilograms and fits in a compact car. The electric drive was developed in cooperation with engineers from Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
Sending 241 hp to the rear wheels, the F1-spec electric motor has an average efficiency of 95 per cent, and combined with the advanced battery, the whole powertrain barely generates any waste heat. That means the vents stay closed and drag is kept to a minimum.
We should also mention the solar panels on the roof of the EQXX. When the team got to sunny Italy they took control of all of the 12-volt electrical systems on the car, which apparently contributed to a two per cent increase in range, translating to around 25 km.
The EQXX is just a concept for now. But the knowhow gained from this road trip will impact on future EVs. Mercedes’s chief technology officer Markus Schäfer said that the company's upcoming MMA electric platform would use batteries with a similar chemistry to the EQXX's in 2024. He also said: “Stay tuned. In the near future you will see something which is – from a design standpoint – very very close to this vehicle.”
