Mercedes Vision EQXX, the electric sedan that promises more than 1,000 km of range

In the race for autonomy that the manufacturers of electric cars, Mercedes-Benz shows the muscles. On the occasion of the Consumer Electronics Show, the German brand unveiled the Vision EQXX, an electric concept car with fluid lines which announces a range of more than 1,000 km, the symbolic threshold supposed to remove any anxiety among electric car drivers.

Rather than being satisfied with installing a high capacity battery capable of ensuring the 1000 km of autonomy by using experimental technologies, Mercedes explains having imposed on its engineers to find solutions potentially applicable to production models. Result, the Vision EQXX is equipped with a 100 kWh battery advertised as being 50% smaller and 30% lighter (495 kg) than that of the EQS electric sedan while having an equivalent energy density of approximately 400 Wh / L. Mercedes announces that its electric concept car has a fuel consumption ofenergy less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers. The battery is compatible with the 900 V recharge. roof is covered with photovoltaic cells which allow up to 25 km of autonomy.

A rolling laboratory

To achieve this exceptional weight-performance compromise, the teams of the Vision EQXX program worked in close collaboration with the engineers of the Formula 1 teams and Formula E from Mercedes. With a modest 150 kW (204 hp) engine, the four doors is not a supercar, but that is not its vocation. Mercedes explains having privileged efficiency, with an important work on the aerodynamics of the body which displays a Cx of 0.17. By way of comparison, the Mercedes EQS, which is the most aerodynamic production car on the market to date, has a drag coefficient of 0.20.

Aesthetically, the Vision EQXX is reminiscent of the Volkswagen XL1 and the Lightyear One, with its elongated bow and rear light strip in the shape of a boomerang. It is fitted with rims in magnesium 20 inch Bridgestone Turanza Eco tires. The interior takes up the very futuristic atmosphere of the brand’s latest electric concept cars at thestar, with an impressive 47.5-inch 8K mini-Led screen (7680×660 pixels) that spans the entire width of the dashboard and offers 3D assisted navigation. In its press release, Mercedes mentions the presence of on-board “neuromorphic computing” which relies on artificial neural networks supposed to process information while consuming much less energy, in particular for voice recognition.

Bamboo, mushrooms and cacti

The manufacturer has also paid particular attention to the use of eco-responsible materials. The seats are covered with a vegan and bio-based leather made from the mycelium, the door handles are made of a silk-like fabric, very resistant and also certified vegan. The floor mats are made of bamboo, the upholstery in fabric produced from cactus fibers and some upholstery are from plastics recycled.

According to Mercedes, the Vision EQXX could make a Paris-Berlin trip in one go without recharging. Based on the average distances traveled per year by motorists in Europe, the manufacturer estimates that a single monthly charge would be sufficient. It remains to be seen when these technological advances will arrive in whole or in part in future production models from Mercedes, which has planned to switch all its ranges to electric from 2030.