The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX concept sets a new benchmark for electric vehicle efficiency, delivering a staggering 1,000km range on a single charge. Image: Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Concept cars have long been regarded as the crystal balls of the automotive world, providing fans a glimpse of what designers and engineers are working on, in pursuit of the Next Big Thing in vehicle development.

But not all concept cars are created equal. Some are little more than extravagant styling exercises, even lacking proper mechanical underpinnings. Others, such as the series of radical C111 concepts unveiled by Mercedes-Benz during the 1960s and 1970s, offer clear pointers to new technologies and ideas.

The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX falls firmly into the latter camp, providing an inspirational, yet completely realistic way forward for electromobility that delivers, among other things, a staggering 1,000km driving range on a single charge.

Packed with efficiency improvements, this road-legal research prototype contains features that are already being integrated into production, including the next generation of MMA – the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture for compact and medium-sized cars.

Traditionally, concept cars are unveiled at major international motor shows – Frankfurt, Paris, New York – but as the world looks to wean itself off fossil fuels and the automobile evolves to be part of a broader mobility solution, Mercedes-Benz chose to reveal the VISION EQXX at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January.

Billed as the world’s most influential tech event and the global stage for innovation, the CES mission statement of being a ‘proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators’ fits the VISION EQXX to a tee.

More give, less take

Delivering greater range from less energy, more tangible luxury and convenience with less environmental impact, and more electric mobility with less waste, the VISION EQXX sets a new benchmark as the most efficient Mercedes-Benz vehicle ever produced.

It’s a lofty accolade at a time when the world has its high beams firmly fixed on electromobility, so how did the team achieve it?

For starters, the VISION EQXX has been developed with advancements across all elements of its electric drivetrain. Combine these with sleek aerodynamics, lightweight engineering and use of sustainable materials throughout, and the result is sky-high efficiency.

The radical concept offers a clear indication to the direction Mercedes-Benz designers and engineers are headed with future production models. It’s also a product of the company’s ongoing transformation to an all-electric and software-driven auto maker. The prototype was created using the latest digital technology, harnessing the agility of a start-up and the speed of Formula 1, allowing the VISION EQXX to go from clean sheet to on-the-road in a remarkable 18 months.

Sydney to Melbourne on a single charge

Of the prototype’s many headline-making features, the one receiving the most airtime is that nice, round 1,000km range.

The figure was qualified based on internal digital simulations in real-life traffic conditions, with the VISION EQXX recording an energy consumption of less than 10kWh per 100km. Translated into fossil-fuel consumption, that is roughly the equivalent of the magic fuel-efficiency figure of 1.0L/100km. Expressed in distance terms, it means a single charge of the VISION EQXX could take you from Berlin to Paris, from London to Paris and back, or from Sydney to Melbourne. That’s significantly further than many internal combustion vehicles, and effectively puts an end to EV range anxiety.

With its motor output of around 150kW, the electric drivetrain provides the power and stamina underpinning this exceptional long-distance performance. A team of Mercedes-Benz engineers worked with the world’s fastest race lab at High Performance Powertrains (HPP) and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix (MGP) to engineer the highly efficient and compact electric drivetrain and lightweight battery case.

Their collaboration to redesign the drivetrain and slash system losses resulted in a remarkable 95 per cent energy efficiency, compared to just 30 per cent from even the best internal combustion drivetrain.

Mercedes-Benz and the HPP team also developed a completely new battery pack for the VISION EQXX. It has the same amount of energy as the larger EQS, achieving an energy density of close to 400Wh/l, but has 50 per cent less volume and is 30 per cent lighter than the pack in the EQS.

Aerodynamic achievements

A slippery body design is also key to this vehicle’s remarkable range. On a regular long-distance drive, a typical electric vehicle dedicates almost two-thirds of its battery capacity to overcoming aerodynamic resistance, but with a drag coefficient of just 0.17 the VISION EQXX slices through the air with incredible efficiency.

Engineers used advanced digital tools, including 3D printing, to lower weight and reduce waste by removing any hint of excess material in the structure. Notable active and passive aerodynamic details include a retractable rear diffuser that deploys only at higher speeds when the air becomes a tougher opponent, a small frontal area to minimise resistance and a rear track that is 50mm less than the front (despite appearances to the contrary). There’s also an ingenious air curtain at the front bumper which combines with the wheel covers to remove the last bit of aerodynamic separation.

Inside the stylish cabin the UI/UX (user interface and user experience) features a seamless digital display that spans the entire width of the vehicle, coming to life with responsive real-time graphics. The electric system that powers many of the ancillaries draws additional energy from 117 solar cells on the roof. These ultra-thin roof panels feed the battery system and can add up to 25km of extra range on long-distance journeys.

The interior of the VISION EQXX also heralds a new, purist style for Mercedes-Benz, focusing on just a few modules and the beautiful simplicity of lightweight design. Innovative sustainable materials include a vegan leather alternative made from the underground root-like structure of mushrooms, a high-strength, biotechnology-based vegan silk-like fabric used on the door pulls, and bamboo-fibre floor carpets.

The VISION EQXX gives Mercedes-Benz customers a clear insight into what premium efficiency for the electric and digital era looks and feels like. Beautiful design and intuitive operation, enhanced by advanced digital technologies, delivering sustainable, long-haul electric mobility the Mercedes-Benz way.

Discover more electric vehicles from Mercedes-EQ.

By Jonathan Weller