A few months ago, the experimental Mercedes EQXX set a world record for an electric car: 620 miles without stopping to recharge. The car is a rolling test bench for Mercedes, a way to try out new electric car technologies, some of which will find their way into vehicle production over time.
Styling is not what this car is all about. Finding ways to drive efficiently is the reason the car exists. And if you thought 620 miles was remarkable, last week the car made a trip from Stuttgart to Silverstone, England, where the British Grand Prix Formula 1 race will take place this weekend. On the way, the car made a stop at the nearby Mercedes F1 team headquarters.
When the trip ended, the EQXX had covered 747 miles in 14 hours without recharging in two days – another record for an electric car. According to the robbery report, the trip took place under real driving conditions. En route, the driving team encountered road closures in Germany, heavy traffic around London and ran the air conditioning for about eight hours a day.
The average speed for the trip was 56 mph and the EQXX used only 8.3 kWh of energy per 100 kilometers, meaning it traveled 7.48 miles per kWh. In the previous record trip, he consumed 8.7 kWh per 100 kilometers and covered 7.14 miles per kWh.
The EQXX was so efficient that there was even enough charge left in the battery for Mercedes Formula E driver Nyck de Vries to complete 11 laps of the Silverstone circuit with the maximum top speed of 140 mph.
The latest record performance of the EQXX can be traced to two main factors. First, an all-new powertrain that produces 240 horsepower and is connected to a super-lightweight 100 kWh battery pack and an innovative thermal management system. (CATL has just introduced its own innovative cooling system for its new Qirin battery.) Second, an ultra-aerodynamic shape – it has a lower drag coefficient than a football – that allows the car to slice through the air as efficiently as possible.
Mercedes has not hinted that the EQXX is headed for production, but the lessons learned are sure to feed into production electric cars in the future.
Check out our brand new E-BikeGuide† If you’re curious about electric bikes, this is the best place to start your e-mobility journey!
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