Mercedes Vision EQXX concept

 Range is unquestionably one of the most serious issues with electric vehicles right now, combined with how sluggish charging is, even on the quickest DC chargers, as compared to filling up a gas tank. These factors are connected, though, since if your batteries have enough juice to go you all the way to your destination, the length of time it takes to charge them becomes almost meaningless (to a point).

So, enter the range race for a chance to reach the illusive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) record. Nio, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has already launched the ET5, which, in one variant, will allegedly exceed that threshold when it comes later this year, and Mercedes has just unveiled its new Vision EQXX concept, which does the same thing.

 

However, because this is a concept, the fact that it reaches that range in no way implies that a Mercedes EQX automobile would achieve the same feat. However, it's evident that the firm wants to make a statement about going in that path.

Anyway, the usual disclaimers about this being a concept apply: don't expect any of this to make it into the final car, assuming one exists at all. Let's go into the information Mercedes has provided now that that's out of the way.

 

The EQXX features a record-breaking drag coefficient of 0.17 (if it ever becomes a real automobile), defeating the company's own EQS, which now holds the record at 0.20. (lower is better). The 1,000 km range is achieved with an average consumption of under 10 kWh per 100 km (62 miles), and the drag coefficient is likely a factor, as two-thirds of an EV's electric energy is used just to overcome air resistance.

With the EQXX, Mercedes emphasises efficiency, claiming that 95 percent of the energy stored in the battery reaches the wheels.In comparison, an automobile with an internal combustion engine produces roughly 30% efficiency, while "the average human long-distance runner" achieves over 50%. The car's highest power output is 150 kW (201 horsepower).

 

The business focused on improving the energy density of the battery to 200 Wh/kg, or 400 Wh/l, rather than making it bigger and hence heavier. Because of the usage of silicon anodes and "ultra-lightweight materials from Formula One," the 900V 100 kWh battery takes up 50% less room and weights 30% less than comparable batteries. The automobile only weights 1,750 kg in total, with the battery being 495 kg, which is quite astounding.

Mercedes only released the wheelbase, which is 2.8 metres, and the roof contains 117 solar cells that can provide "up to" 25 kilometres of extra range for long-distance travel. The solar energy is stored in a lithium-iron-phosphate battery that can power the air conditioner, lighting, and infotainment system. 

When it's cold outside, the design has a heat pump for efficient heating. It uses an exterior heat exchanger to extract heat from the ambient air and recovers waste heat from the drivetrain. When compared to prior Mercedes heat pumps, this extends the operational temperature range.



The EQXX's interior features mushrooms (as a leather substitute), bamboo (for the carpets), cactus (as another animal-free leather substitute), and "vegan silk" (in the door pulls), all of which are meant to demonstrate that "achieving the utmost in automotive luxury without using animal products" is possible.

There's also a 47.5-inch "totally seamles

s" mini-LED display (with 3,000 local dimming zones) with "8K" resolution that stretches from left to right (7680x660). It has "the first realtime 3D navigation system on a screen this tiny," which allows for seamless zoom and scroll from satellite view to a height of 10 metres in the 3D city depiction. The Hey Mercedes assistant function now has a more emotive tone to it, as well as a distinct personality.

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