{"id":28538,"date":"2022-01-05T10:24:20","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T14:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=28538"},"modified":"2022-01-05T10:24:20","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T14:24:20","slug":"mercedes-sleek-electric-vision-eqxx-concept-claims-620-mile-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/mercedes-sleek-electric-vision-eqxx-concept-claims-620-mile-range","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes’ sleek, electric Vision EQXX concept claims 620-mile range"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mercedes kicked off the new year Monday with its Vision EQXX concept, a long-range electric halo vehicle for the German brand.<\/p>\n

The aerodynamic EQXX packs a similar-size battery as Mercedes\u2019 current, full-size production EQS sedan into a compact chassis about the size of the entry-level, gas-powered Mercedes CLA Class. Introduced ahead of this week’s\u00a0Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, EQXX is also stuffed with a full-dash infotainment screen and virtuous, sustainable materials prized by green customers.<\/p>\n

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Mercedes announced that, when the concept hits the road this spring, it will be capable of 620 miles of range \u2014 a trip from Detroit to New York City. That figure rivals that of gas-electric hybrids like the 633-mile-range Toyota Prius,\u00a0though it comes up short of diesel-powered marathoners like the 1,000-mile-range Ram 1500 pickup.<\/p>\n

The Merc follows in the footsteps of other European moon shots like the 2002 Volkswagen 1-Liter concept, a similarly sleek, cigar-shaped, diesel-powered creation that achieved the European benchmark of using just one liter of petrol to travel 100 kilometers \u2014 the equivalent of 237 mpg.<\/p>\n

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For the EV Age, Mercedes says its concept will hit a new efficiency target of less than 10 kWh consumed per 100 kilometers traveled (6 miles per kWh).<\/p>\n

The VW diesel appeared at a time when Middle East conflict dominated headlines and Europe was determined to free itself of Mideast oil by encouraging the adoption of efficient, diesel-powered autos. Diesels have since fallen out of favor with governments. EVs are the new political fashion and EQXX claims the moral high ground as governments force non-fossil fuel vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mercedes-Benz EQXX is how we imagine the future of electric cars,\u201d said Mercedes Chairman Ola K\u00e4llenius.\u00a0\u201cThe EQXX is an advanced car in so many dimensions \u2014 and it even looks stunning and futuristic. With that, it underlines where our entire company is headed: We will build the world\u2019s most desirable electric cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The EQXX achieves its efficiency goals with a low frontal area and a long, race car-like tail. The Merc boasts a drag co-efficient of just 0.17 \u2014 lower than state-of-the-art production cars like Lucid Air\u2019s 0.20 and Tesla Model S Plaid\u2019s 0.208. The low drag co-efficient is achieved with a smaller frontal area than the entry-level, Mercedes CLA-class and a rear track width 2 inches less than at the front.<\/p>\n

The concept\u2019s range numbers are better than the brand\u2019s current, $103,360 EQS production EV halo, which gets 350 miles of range. In packing a similar 100 kWh battery into a compact-class chassis, EQXX claims 95% driveline efficiency compared with 75% for the EQS. Drawing on its experience in Formula One and Formula E racing \u2014 both of which utilize battery technology \u2014 the Vision concept claims 50% less volume and 30% less weight than the EQS battery.<\/p>\n

The lightweight battery means the Mercedes tips the scale at 3,858 pounds \u2014 or about the same girth as a Tesla Model 3 that has nearly half the range. A solar roof on EQXX delivers another 16 miles of potential mileage.<\/p>\n

\u201cDriven by the idea of zero impact on our planet and a highly responsible use of green energy, we encouraged our engineers to go above and beyond,\u201d reads the EQXX\u00a0news release. \u201cThe VISION EQXX is the result of a mission we set to break through technological barriers and lift energy efficiency to new heights. It answers the progressive demands of a modern generation of customer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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But Mercedes\u2019 push toward electrification is driven by more than political virtue signaling. Long dominant in the U.S. market, Germany\u2019s Teutonic trio of Mercedes, BMW\u00a0and Audi have been passed by the Model 3, which recorded more than 200,000 unit sales in 2020, compared with just 52,000 for Mercedes’ best-selling GLC-class sport utility. As EV mandates accelerate in the next few years, Tesla is in the catbird\u00a0seat, accounting for about 80% of EV sales in the U.S.<\/p>\n