Many concept cars aren’t fully functional, but Mercedes plans to cross much of Europe on a single charge in this one. Meet the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX. You won’t be able to buy it. It’s just a design study the German automaker’s engineers undertook to see what they could accomplish. But what they accomplished is significant for the near future of driving.
This thing, they claim, goes over 600 miles on a charge while carrying four adults. “Based on average distances driven per year, a driver in the U.S. or China would have to fully recharge the VISION EQXX only twice per month,” Mercedes says.
Just a Concept Car, but the Battery Could Appear Elsewhere
Mercedes has one electric car already for sale in the U.S., with plans for up to five more in a short two-year window. The one you can order today – the ultra-luxury EQS – is a full-size sedan with every imaginable creature comfort, from a nap mode to programmable scents.
The EQXX is nothing like that. It’s a much simpler, compact car. But the two share one remarkable trait. Their batteries carry the same amount of energy. The EQXX just does it in about half the size and weighs 30% less.
Some of the technologies packed into the EQXX seem exotic and not likely to reach production. But packing the same energy into a smaller and lighter unit could allow Mercedes to build more powerful batteries that fit into the EQS and other EVs, stretching their range.
Low Weight, Low Drag
Other range-stretching tricks include moves to lower the weight while keeping the car as rigid as possible. The doors are built of lightweight aluminum-reinforced carbon and glass-infused plastic. A cast-aluminum floor reduces the need for heavy bracing.
The roof contains 117 solar cells capable, Mercedes says, of adding 15 miles to the range on a clear day.
Aerodynamics are part of the formula, too. That canted boattail is the obvious streamlining touch. Less obvious is a retractable rear diffuser. Aerodynamic wheel covers add to the slipstream effect, giving the EQXX a racecar-like coefficient of drag of just 0.17.
Inside, a 47.5-inch 8K touchscreen stretches over the entire dashboard. Vegan materials line the cabin, chosen for their sustainability and light weight.
The EQXX doesn’t have the power of most Mercedes products, but engineers didn’t eke out great range by underpowering it. Two electric motors make 201 horsepower.
No Public Appearance Yet, But a Plan to Drive It Across Europe
The EQXX was scheduled to make its public appearance at this week’s CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. But, in light of the current surge of COVID-19 cases, Mercedes opted for a virtual reveal instead.
But Europeans might catch a glimpse of it in person. Engineers plan to attempt a 621-mile trip without stopping to charge later this year. That’s about the distance from Berlin to Paris, the automaker notes.
