Traveling by car 70 years ago established itself as a cultural phenomenon, about which books are written, songs are composed, and films are made. We associate traveling by car with freedom, individuality and a constantly changing world. Until now, such journeys have had little to do with electric cars, but Mercedes-Benz's Vision EQXX concept will turn that situation upside down. This electric car will allow you to compete freely without hindrance, as it will be possible to travel more than 1000 kilometers on a single charge, according to the press release.

The concept four-seater sedan has impressive technical characteristics. The car could travel an impressive distance, but the battery capacity is less than 100 kWh. This means that the EQXX would use just 10 kWh/100 km (calculated by a computer simulation), which can be compared to the consumption of 1 l/100 km of conventional fuel.

Such efficiency was due to several key innovations. These include new-generation batteries, innovative solutions to reduce energy transmission losses and a low aerodynamic drag coefficient, as well as advanced software and ultra-light chassis and body parts.

According to the Mercedes Benz concern, the electric era in motoring is primarily defined by the parameters of driving distance and efficiency. The creation of Vision EQXX is an effort to overcome technological barriers and raise energy efficiency to a new level. The project also showed that breakthroughs are possible when fundamentals are reviewed from the ground up.

 "The Vision EQXX concept is how we envision the future of electric cars. We started this project just a year and a half ago and created the most efficient Mercedes-Benz car ever. Vision EQXX is extremely advanced in every aspect, it even looks futuristic and stunning. This clearly shows the direction we are moving in - we will create the most desired electric car in the world," says Ola Källenius, member of the board of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.

Company representatives emphasize that Vision EQXX is not a vision of the distant future. Already in 2024 a serial model very close to it will be introduced to the market.


Battery and aerodynamic drag



In order to reach a new level of efficiency, Mercedes-Benz engineers revised and improved many components of the car. The size and weight of the battery have become much smaller: although the capacity reaches just under 100 kWh, the batteries weigh 30 percent. and occupies 50 percent. less space than Mercedes-Benz's current flagship electric car, the EQS. The battery has been reduced to a size that can fit in a compact car.

Energy losses were significantly reduced by the new generation silicon carbides used in the electric drive system. Together with intelligent engine management software and an innovative cooling system, this allowed to reach 95 percent. system efficiency. The Mercedes-AMG division, which prepares cars for Formula 1 races, has made a big contribution to this.

Another non-standard solution - solar panels on the roof of the car also generate electricity. They partially offset the energy needs of higher voltage devices such as climate control or lamps. In favorable weather conditions, the solar power plant on the roof of the car can increase the driving distance by 25 kilometers.

The distance a car can travel is greatly influenced by air resistance. A typical current electric car uses about 2/3 of the battery's capacity to beat the air on a long trip. As a result, the Vision EQXX looks a bit different - for example, it no longer has a very expressive radiator grille at the front. This achieved an unprecedented drag coefficient of 0.17. In addition, modern body materials, aluminum brake discs and magnesium rims reduce the car's weight to just 1,750 kilograms.


Refined and sustainable salon



The Vision EQXX marks another important direction for Mercedes-Benz: to offer interiors of highly refined style and functionality, using sustainable materials. A number of innovative materials startups were involved in the development process. Here we find Biosteel, a silk-like material created by biotechnologists.

The company aims to completely abandon materials of animal origin, so leather is replaced by two products under development: "Mylo" made from mycelium and "Deserttex" made from cacti and polyurethane. The car mats are made of bamboo fiber, and the decoration also uses recycled plastic or its substitute UBQ, extracted from household waste.

An impressive highlight of the car is a 47.5-inch screen that stretches from one door to the other and adapts to the needs of the driver or front passenger. Mercedes-Benz promises to expand the currently used infotainment system MBUX with artificial intelligence capabilities, and in a few years to equip the car's computer with a neuromorphic chip that would consume significantly less energy than the ones currently in use.