Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX drives more than 1000 km on one battery charge

The technology carrier VISION EQXX from Mercedes-Benz has proven its outstanding range and efficiency during a test drive on public roads: On its maiden voyage from Sindelfingen across the Swiss Alps and northern Italy to Cassis on the Côte d'Azur, it covered more than 1000 kilometres in real everyday traffic - on a single battery charge. The VISION EQXX started in the cold and rain, drove at the regular speeds and was also in the fast lane on German motorways at times at up to 140 km/h. The average speed was a good 87 km/h. The battery's state of charge on arrival was around 15 per cent, so the remaining range was a good 140 kilometres. The average consumption was a record low of 8.7 kWh per 100 kilometres.

The VISION EQXX thus raises the range and efficiency of an electric car to a new level - under real conditions and confirmed by a neutral body. The long-distance drive was carried out with a sealed charging socket and was accompanied by an independent expert from TÜV Süd. This also officially confirms that Mercedes-Benz's new development approach has great potential: thinking holistically about efficiency beyond the drivetrain and aerodynamics down to the smallest detail, as well as working more closely than ever before across divisions and with external partners - this concept has been 100 per cent successful, the manufacturer said in a recent statement. It is a blueprint for automotive engineering that is intended to set new standards for the efficiency and range of electric vehicles. Many of the technologies of the VISION EQXX are therefore to be used in future Mercedes-Benz production vehicles.

The road to electromobility is also an exciting, challenging road trip with a clear goal in mind: maximum efficiency through innovation. According to Mercedes, the VISION EQXX stands for a holistic approach with innovations in all technical areas that influence energy consumption. "With the successful road trip to the south of France, we have shown that efficiency is the new currency. And the success also clearly speaks for our new collaborative development process, which has incorporated many insights from the Mercedes-AMG F1 team and its leading expertise in electric drives. The VISION EQXX is the result of a comprehensive technology programme that provides a blueprint for the future of automotive engineering. Many of the innovative developments are already being integrated into production, some of them also in the next generation of modular architecture for compact and mid-size Mercedes-Benz vehicles. And the journey continues. With the VISION EQXX we will continue to test the limits of what is possible," says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Purchasing.

Demanding route profile and varying weather conditions
The VISION EQXX is packed with innovations. As a software-optimised prototype, it is part of a far-reaching technology programme that combines the latest digital technology with the pioneering spirit typical of Mercedes, the agility of a start-up and the speed of Formula 1. The mission of developing the VISION EQXX was to push the limits of what is possible. To show what is electrically "feasible", the technology carrier completed a one-day road trip across several inner-European borders: from Germany to Switzerland, on to Italy, past Milan and finally to its destination, the southern French port town of Cassis near Marseille.

The route profile - from motorway stages to mountain passages and road works - and the weather conditions presented the VISION EQXX with a wide variety of challenges. The temperature ranged from only 3 degrees Celsius at the start at the research and development centre in Sindelfingen to 18 degrees Celsius at the finish. North of the Alps it rained lightly and further south a light wind blew in the sunshine. The effect of the numerous efficiency measures was documented using different sections of the route.