Road trips have been a cultural benchmark for at least 70 years, telling stories from the highway in books, movies and music. Today, Mercedes-Benz AG introduced VISION EQXX, a vehicle designed for that road trip.
“The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX is how we imagine the future of electric cars. Just one-and-a-half years ago, we started this project leading to the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built – with an outstanding energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers. It has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers2 (620 miles) on a single charge using a battery that would fit even into a compact vehicle. The VISION EQXX is an advanced car in so many dimensions – and it even looks stunning and futuristic. With that, it underlines where our entire company is headed: We will build the world”s most desirable electric cars.” Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.
By ripping up the automotive engineering rulebook, Mercedes-Benz has built a software-driven electric car that re-imagines the road trip for the electric era. At the same time, it presents a highly progressive interpretation of the fundamental Mercedes-Benz principles of modern luxury and Sensual Purity. Rather than simply increasing the size of the battery, the cross-functional, international team focused on maximizing long- distance efficiency. They pulled out all the stops in drivetrain efficiency, energy density, aerodynamics and lightweight design.
Key Features
More than 1,000 km (over 620 miles) on a single charge on public roads puts an end to range anxiety
Recycled and plant-based materials remove waste from landfill and lower carbon footprint
Ultra-low-rolling-resistance tires with optimized aerodynamic geometry combine with lightweight magnesium wheels
Electric-only chassis with lightweight F1 subframe
VISION EQXX: key technical data
| Battery energy content, usable | kWh | <100 |
| Max. system voltage | Volts | >900 |
| Energy consumption | kWh/100 km (miles/kWh) | <10 (>6) |
| cd value | 0.177 | |
| Max. power output | kW | ~150 |
| Wheelbase | in | 110 |
| Gross vehicle weight | lbs | ~3,858 |
At its heart, efficiency means achieving more from less. The most familiar expression of automotive efficiency is that of fuel consumption or fuel economy. This is expressed in different ways depending on where we are in the world (i.e. liters per 100 kilometers, miles per gallon or kilometers per liter). Regardless of convention, they all relate units of fuel (energy) with units of distance. Electric mobility is no different in that respect. By making efficiency the new currency, Mercedes-Benz has created a common denominator for quantifying technological development across the board – beyond fuel efficiency alone. Meaning, more range from less energy, it also means more tangible luxury and convenience with less impact on nature, and more electric mobility with less waste.
On any road trip, it’s the car that does the work – soaking up the miles and leaving the driver and passengers to experience the journey. In the long-haul mindset that makes the VISION EQXX so special. With output of around 150 kW, the super-efficient electric drivetrain (encompassing everything from battery to electric drive unit to wheels) in the VISION EQXX provides the power and stamina underpinning this exceptional long-distance runner. More than a composition of individual parts, it is a work of engineering art in its own right. Tasked with a very clear and specific set of targets, the team set out to create an electric drivetrain with a world-beating combination of efficiency, energy density and lightweight engineering. So, let’s throw in a figure here – 95% efficiency. That means up to 95% of the energy from the battery ends up at the wheels – pure and simple. Compare that to just 30% from even the most efficient ICE drivetrain or around 50% from an average human long-distance runner.
Marking the launch of a new, super-purist design style, the VISION EQXX represents a new expression of efficiency in interior design. In a departure from the conventional design approach, the interior layout focuses on just a few modules and the beautiful simplicity of lightweight design. From mushrooms to vegan silk, nature’s influence continues when we step inside the VISION EQXX. The lightweight luxury feel of the interior comes from extensive use of lightweight, sustainable materials and organic-inspired design detailing. The basic principle is maximum comfort and style with minimum weight – and absolutely no animal-derived products.
The interior features a large number of innovative materials sourced from start-ups around the world. For example, the door pulls are made from AMsilk’s Biosteel fiber. This high-strength, biotechnology-based and certified-vegan silk-like fabric comes from the inventor of biofabricated (nature-identical) fiber. Combining revolutionary science with true environmental integrity, its use here marks a first in the automotive sector.