At the start of the year, Mercedes-Benz launched its VISION EQXX electric car with the incredible claim that it would offer a range of over 620 miles (1,000km). We were impressed not only by the claims but by what a great looking car the VISION EQXX is. The German carmaker has now taken it to the road to demonstrate its outstanding range and efficiency.
Mercedes-Benz drove the VISION EQXX from Sindelfingen across the Swiss Alps and Northern Italy, to its destination of Cassis on the Côte d’Azur. It covered more than 620 miles (1,000km) in everyday traffic, on a single battery charge.
This is truly impressive and makes it the longest range electric vehicle (EV) beating the current holder the Lucid Air which delivered 520 miles (837km) from a single charge.
The journey started in cold and rainy conditions and was undertaken at regular road speeds. This included prolonged fast-lane cruising at up to 87mph (140kph) on the German autobahn and near the speed limit elsewhere.
At the end of the journey, the battery’s state of charge was still around 15 percent, amounting to a remaining range of around 87 miles (140km). The average consumption was a record-breaking low of 8.7kWh per 100 kilometres. This is truly impressive and smashes any talk of range anxiety.
Along with its design efficiency and battery set-up, the VISION EQXX was aided by its fixed solar roof. The 117 solar cells feed the 12-volt battery, which supplies power to auxiliary consumers such as the navigation system. The solar booster is said to increase the range by more than two percent, which adds up to a good 25 kilometres (16 miles) on a journey of over 1,000 kilometres.
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said: “We did it. Powering through more than 1,000 kilometres with ease on a single battery charge and a consumption of only 8.7kWh/100 km in real-world traffic conditions.
“The VISION EQXX is the most efficient Mercedes ever built. The technology programme behind it marks a milestone in the development of electric vehicles. It underpins our strategic aim to lead in electric.”
