Mercedes Benz introduced the Vision EQXX, a solar-powered concept car that exceeds 1,000 kilometers (648 miles) on a single charge. With this model, the company managed to write its name in the title of the longest-range electric vehicle. However, there are some remarkable features of the vehicle outside the range.
CES 2022 will close a day early!
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced that the CES 2022 fair will close a day early due to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the USA.
Mercedes impresses with its new favorite Vision EQXX
Mercedes, which has been promoting the vehicle for a few weeks, finally introduced it at the CES 2022 fair (Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas). Of course, many people wanted to see this car in person. But like many of the big companies, Mercedes has held the event digitally as it announced that it is canceling its plans to attend CES physically due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.
With its sporty genetics and sleek and futuristic design, the Vision EQXX will likely form the basis of a production car that can compete with other luxury electric vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan, Audi E-tron GT and Tesla Roadster. Unlike other Mercedes concepts, the company is thought to be very close to the result, as the company has its feet firmly on the ground in this model.
The company claims it bases its range estimates on a simulation of real-life traffic conditions and will consume more than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers, or 6 miles per kWh. Translated into fossil fuel consumption terms, this equates to 235 miles per gallon or 1 liter of gasoline per 100 kilometers in the US. In other words, it corresponds to 1 in 5 of even the least burning diesel vehicles on the market.
To put this in perspective, Mercedes states that 10kWh is equivalent to using a clothes dryer or air conditioning unit for three hours, or watching 50 hours of television on a 50-inch LED screen. But despite these simulations and predictions, Mercedes says the Vision EQXX product range is completely realistic and most of its technological advances will be integrated into future production vehicles through the company’s Modular Architecture team.
Mercedes says it achieves this energy efficiency not by cramming a huge battery under the floor of the vehicle, but by considering all aspects of powertrain efficiency, energy density, aerodynamics and lightweight design. The Vision EQXX weighs just 1,750 kilograms. In addition, although it is a direct competitor to sports cars, it falls into the category of SUV in terms of volume. And most of that weight is probably due to the battery pack, which holds around 100 kWh of energy but also saves 50 percent less volume and 30 percent less mass than the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan.
The car’s slippery drop shape aims to reduce aerodynamic drag. Also, Mercedes says it achieved a drag coefficient of 0.17 based on the 140 km/h wind tunnel test. That’s well above the EQS’s record-breaking 0.20. Of course, since the vehicle presented to our liking is still in the concept stage, the model coming out of the mass production line may be a little different from what we see. Of course, there may be changes in the data depending on this. But the company makes its claim to keep change to a minimum.
Vision EQXX has a special system that is supported by 117 solar cells mounted on the roof of the vehicle. Developed in collaboration with Europe’s largest solar research institute, the solar roof aims to balance the energy consumption of the high voltage system while increasing the range. According to Mercedes, solar cells can add up to 25 km of additional range in a day, in ideal conditions and on long-distance journeys.
Of course, Mercedes isn’t the only company trying to achieve this. A Californian company called Aptera Motors, which had to shut its doors down after the great recession, has recently announced that it is back on its feet. Similarly, we know that German startup Sono Motors is working on a solar-powered electric car. Nearby, Dutch startup Lightyear has also recently found a manufacturing partner to build its solar-powered electric car, Lightyear One. So the competition is getting hotter.
Inside the Vision EQXX, the company’s new Hyperscreen infotainment display greets us. Unlike the Hyper Display, which is a mixture of three separate screens placed inside a 56-inch piece of glass, the Vision EQXX’s screen comes in one piece, which has a huge 47.5-inch size. It also brings 8K resolution and cutting-edge graphics support. Mercedes says it’s working with a company called NAVIS Automotive Systems to develop the first real-time 3D navigation system on a screen this size.
The company says this new navigation system will perform seamless zooming and panning functions in a 3D (3D) city display from satellite imagery up to 10 meters high. Like many of its competitors, Mercedes is moving at full speed towards an all-electric future. It said it will commit to a budget of 40 billion euros ($47 billion) for the electrification of its lineup by 2030, including electrified versions of G-class models and AMG high-performance vehicles.
The European Union, China and California have said they will ban the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. For this reason, many manufacturers, from Mercedes to Ford, have announced that they will reach the capacity to produce fully electric vehicles by 2030 and even end the production of internal combustion engines. Of course, in the coming years, we will see the answer to the question of whether these decisions will be reflected in countries such as Turkey immediately or will we have to wait until the 2040s.
What do you think about this subject? Don’t forget to share your views with us in the comments!