The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX made a long-distance road trip from Sindelfingen, crossing the Swiss Alps into Northern Italy, and on to Cassis on the Côte d’Azur.

The 1,000 km (621 miles) began on a cold and rainy day. Speeds reached 87 mph on the German autobahn with the fast lane changes that come with high-speed travel. Upon arrival, 15% (140 km (87 miles) remained. The trip averaged a record-breaking low of 8.7 kWh per 100 kilometers (7.1 kWh per 62 miles).

In order to make sure things were tickety boo, VISION EQXX had its charging socket sealed and accompanied by an independent expert from certification body TÜV Süd. The test was intended to demonstrate the Mercedes-Benz development approach to efficiency. All details are taken into account, from drivetrain to aerodynamics and everything inbetween.

“We did it! Powering through more than 1,000 kilometers with ease on a single battery charge and a consumption of only 8.7 kWh/100 km (7.1 kWh per 62 miles) in real-world traffic conditions. The VISION EQXX is the most efficient Mercedes ever built. The technology program behind it marks a milestone in the development of electric vehicles. It underpins our strategic aim to ‘Lead in Electric’,” says Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

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Challenging route profile and varying weather conditions

Many say long distance travel can’t be done in an EV, so this trip took in motorway to mountain passes, including roadworks. As with most trips, varying weather conditions gave the VISION EQXX everyday situations to cope with. Temperatures ranged from 3 to 18 degrees Celsius. North of the Alps there was light rain and further south a gentle headwind blew in the sunshine. The various sections of the route helped document the effect of the many efficiency measures.

An excerpt from the trip log:

Up to 140 km/h (87 mph) on the highway – low drag and rolling resistance pay off

The first leg from Sindelfingen to the north-eastern border of Switzerland runs along Autobahn 81. At times, the VISION EQXX sliced through the wind at speeds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph). With its low cd value of 0.17, it gives the wind virtually nothing to grab hold of. This world-beating figure for a road-legal vehicle results from the intelligent interaction of many individual measures. It starts with the basic shape of the body, cradling the smooth-surfaced dome of the greenhouse as it flows elegantly like a water droplet towards the rear. Equally beneficial to the aerodynamics are the small frontal area of 2.12 m² and the reduced rear track. Because this is 2 inches narrower than at the front, the rear wheels roll in the slipstream of the front wheels. The active rear diffuser, which automatically deploys at 37 mph, provides better airflow and thus contributes significantly to the reduced drag.

The technology vehicle gains further efficiency benefits from its tires, with their extremely low rolling- resistance rating of 4.7. Bridgestone developed these specifically for the VISION EQXX in partnership with Mercedes-Benz. By way of comparison, the current EU tire label requires a figure of 6.5 for the top rating in Class A. The EQS uses tires with a rolling resistance of 5.9, which is significantly lower. With the VISION EQXX, Mercedes-Benz is now going one step further. A striking feature is the size of the new tires. The dimensions 185/65 R 20 97 T mean they have a large diameter and a narrow tread. The specialist Turanza Eco tires combine two innovative Bridgestone technologies that enable a higher range: ENLITEN technology reduces both rolling resistance and weight by up to 20 percent. The ologic technology reduces tire deformation while driving, in part through a more tensioned belt section. In addition, the transition from the tire to the wheel rim was optimized in cooperation with the Mercedes-Benz aerodynamics team.

 

Finale in France – crossing the finish line with around 140 kilometers of remaining range

As with most EV,s VISION EQXX collects and stores energy through recuperation. After 11 hours and 32 minutes of driving time, the 1,008-kilometer (626 miles) road trip ended with 140 kilometers (87 miles) left in the battery pack. This means it could have set off again for a jaunt along the Mediterranean coastline without recharging.

The VISION EQXX smashed the trip in real-world conditions, and sets the scene ofr all future EVs, no matter the brand.

VISION EQXX: the trip log in figures

Start Sindelfingen, April 5th, 2022, 7:00 a.m.
Arrival Cassis, April 5th, 2022, 7:02 p.m.
Travel route Sindelfingen, Gotthard Tunnel, Milan, Cassis
Driving distance 1,008 kilometers (626 miles)
Total travel time/movement 12 hours and 2 minutes/11 hours and 32 minutes
Average speed 87.4 km/h (54 mph)
Maximum speed on motorway 140 km/h (87 mph)
Average consumption 8.7 kWh per 100 km (62 miles)
Battery charge level on arrival (SoC) around 15%
Remaining range on arrival around 140 km (87 miles)

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