Range and efficiency are set to define the electric era. Exceptional range will make electric cars suitable for every journey and help to increase overall adoption. Reduced battery size and weight will improve efficiency, allowing us to go further with less. Mercedes-Benz is determined to lead the way. We are already leading the way in terms of real-world range with the EQS with 245 kW, as evidenced by the recent test where an EQS 450+ travelled 422 miles on one charge, 77 miles further than any other car previously tested.
However, Mercedes-Benz is not stopping there. Driven 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. They are working intensively to take range and efficiency to a completely new level. The Vision EQXX is the result of a mission we set to break through technological barriers and lift energy efficiency to new heights. It demonstrates the gains that are possible through rethinking the fundamentals from the ground up. This includes advances across all elements of its cutting-edge electric drivetrain as well as the use of lightweight engineering and sustainable materials. Complete with a barrage of innovative and intelligent efficiency measures, including advanced software, the Vision EQXX allows us to explore new frontiers of efficiency.
Efficiency is the new currency
At its heart, efficiency means achieving more from less. For Mercedes-Benz, this is nothing new - Mercedes-Benz has always strived for efficiency in its vehicles, achieving massive technological strides over the decades. These have benefitted consumers through consistent improvements in fuel consumption, comfort and convenience. However, the imperatives of electric mobility and sustainability have shifted the framework for efficiency.
The most familiar expression of automotive efficiency is that of fuel consumption or fuel economy. This is expressed in different ways depending on where we are in the world (i.e. liters per 100 kilometers, miles per gallon or kilometers per liter). Regardless of convention, they all relate units of fuel (energy) with units of distance. Electric mobility is no different in that respect.
Battery development at its best in collaboration with HPP
Rather than simply increasing the size of the battery, Mercedes-Benz and the HPP team developed a completely new battery pack for the Vision EQXX, achieving a remarkable energy density of close to 400 Wh/l. This benchmark figure is what made it possible to fit a battery pack with just under 100 kWh of usable energy into the compact dimensions of the Vision EQXX.
The substantial increase in energy density comes in part from significant progress in the chemistry of the anodes. Their higher silicon content and advanced composition mean they can hold considerably more energy than commonly used anodes. Another feature that contributed to the impressive energy density is the high level of integration in the battery pack. This platform, developed jointly by Mercedes-Benz R&D and HPP, created more room for cells and helped reduce the overall weight. The separate compartment for the electrical and electronic (EE) components, called the OneBox, likewise made more room for cells, with added benefits for installation and removal. The OneBox also incorporates novel safety devices with energy efficient operations that consume significantly less energy than the equivalent component in a production EV.
The beautiful simplicity of lightweight interior design
Marking the launch of a new, super-purist design style, the Vision EQXX represents a new expression of efficiency in interior design. In a departure from the conventional design approach, the interior layout focuses
on just a few modules and the beautiful simplicity of lightweight design. This is expressed through the absence of complex shapes and the integration of lightweight structures into the interior aesthetic in a wholly organic way, making traditional trim elements unnecessary.
From mushrooms to vegan silk, nature's influence continues when we step inside the Vision EQXX. The lightweight luxury feel of the interior comes from extensive use of lightweight, sustainable materials and organic-inspired design detailing. The basic principle is maximum comfort and style with minimum weight - and absolutely no animal-derived products.
The development and testing process - a digital journey driven by software
The global road trip to electric mobility is fueled by advanced software and digital processes. The highways and byways are many and varied, the attractions and connections along the way inspiring.
Pulling together such a diverse array of expertise and innovative ideas from around the world to create the Vision EQXX in half the time was a masterclass in software management. The team made extensive use of open-source technology, augmented by elements created in-house. Agile working practices and monthly release planning ensured a continuous flow of end-to-end functions and early integration of solutions.
The scale of the digital development work involved in designing and engineering the Vision EQXX is truly groundbreaking. Highly advanced digital tools such as augmented and virtual reality dispensed with the need for time-consuming physical mock-ups. It also facilitated simultaneous development work by remote teams working in different parts of the world - from Stuttgart (Germany) to Bangalore (India) and from Brixworth (UK) to Sunnyvale (California). This massive uplift in digital power slashed the time spent in the wind tunnel from more than 100 hours to just 32. It also meant more than 186,411 miles of test driving was covered virtually.
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