On January 4, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the new concept vision EQXX, defining the future mobility era with a new technology blueprint. Through innovative design, cutting-edge electric drive systems, lightweight engineering, advanced software systems and other aspects of efforts, VISION EQXX has achieved excellent energy efficiency performance, with a single charge range of more than 1,000 kilometers after digital simulation based on real road conditions, and less than 10kWh of energy consumption per 100 kilometers (more than 6 miles per kWh of electricity), becoming the most energy-efficient model in the brand's history.
Ola K llenius, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, said: "From any point of view, the VISION EQXX concept is an advanced electric vehicle. ”
According to foreign media reports, the mass production model of the VISION EQXX concept car will be launched in 2024 or 2025.
Mercedes-Benz did not announce the test conditions for the range of the concept car. At present, there are a few pure electric vehicles on the market that claim to have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, in addition to vision EQXX, GAC AEAN will launch the AION LX PLUS with a range of 1,008 kilometers on January 5, and the ET7 model equipped with a 150kWh semi-solid-state battery that Weilai will deliver in the fourth quarter of this year has a cruising range of 1,000 kilometers.
Unlike many car companies that increase the range of electric vehicles by increasing battery capacity, the VISION EQXX concept car increases the range by optimizing energy efficiency. Although there are already several pure electric vehicles on the market with a range of 1,000 kilometers, in terms of energy efficiency, none of them can reach the level of the VISION EQXX concept car, and as a compact sedan, its energy consumption per 100 kilometers is less than 10kWh. At this point in time, this concept car can be said to have touched the ceiling of electric vehicle energy efficiency. At present, the energy consumption of compact electric vehicles on the market can reach 12-13kWh, which is already quite good.
According to EV Century, CATL provided a battery module for this concept car. Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain Co., Ltd. has developed a new battery system specifically for this concept car, through the development of Formula 1 racing ideas and professional mechanical design, through advanced anode chemical processes and highly integrated battery packs, its battery system volume energy density is close to 400Wh/L, the battery volume is only 50% of the new EQS, and the weight is reduced by 30%. As a result, this compact electric sedan houses a battery pack with usable energy close to 100kWh.
Mercedes-Benz did not announce the battery structure of the concept car. According to public information, the third generation of moduleless CTP (Cell to Pack) technology in the Cataline era can achieve a volume energy density of 450Wh/L of the battery system.
In addition to the higher energy density of the battery system, a better aerodynamic design, higher drivetrain efficiency and a lightweight body all improve the energy efficiency of this concept car.
The ultra-smooth design, combined with tires with ultra-low rolling resistance and aerodynamic optimisation, gives it a drag coefficient as low as 0.17, which is lower than the 0.20 of the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The efficiency of its electric drivetrain is up to 95%, which means that only 5% of the battery energy is lost during the transfer of battery energy from the battery pack to the wheels.
In terms of lightweight design, the MS1500 ultra-high-strength martensitic steel used in this concept car is the first application in mercedes-Benz in-white bodies. The ultra-high strength of this steel minimizes weight while providing excellent protection for occupants in the event of a collision. The innovative plastic leaf springs developed in collaboration with a start-up at the University of Darmstadt and Rheinmetall also offer further weight savings compared to conventional coil springs. Lightweight brake discs made of aluminium alloy further reduce the under-spring mass compared to carbon fiber discs.
In addition, the concept car is equipped with an "energy efficiency assistant system" that also helps to improve driving efficiency, which can give the most efficient driving advice based on information such as energy flow, terrain, electricity, and even the direction and intensity of wind and sun.
The interior layout of the VISION EQXX Concept is also based on a simple and beautiful lightweight design, and is widely equipped with lightweight and sustainable materials, ensuring luxury and comfort while taking into account zero emissions, and achieving a sustainable future of mobility by reducing the carbon footprint.
For example, the doorknobs are made of biodegradable pure plant silk; the seats are made of two outstanding leather alternatives – made of raw cactus and mycelium, respectively – and carpets are woven from 100% bamboo fiber.
The concept car features a fully seamless 47.5-inch slim all-in-one screen that was first adopted on the Mercedes-Benz brand and introduced a game engine and a fully optimized user interface. Compatible with a 3D real-time navigation system, the screen can be enlarged to a height of 10 meters in the 3D city view, outlining a new world of digital luxury.
Vision EQXX also uses a software-driven development approach that plays a decisive role in improving drivetrain efficiency, increasing battery energy density, improving aerodynamics, and meeting lightweight designs. The software-led development process has also completely rewritten the way electric vehicles are designed, significantly saving development time and meeting the needs of ever-changing users. Vision EQXX started from scratch to the ground in just 18 months.
Of course, the VISION EQXX concept car is also the product of close cooperation between Mercedes-Benz's in-house R&D team and its F1 and FE racing engineers, as well as many start-ups and R&D institutions around the world. VISION EQXX was born out of an ongoing project that paints a blueprint for the future of the automotive engineering world. Many of the features developed in the project are now used in production models and will be introduced in future compact and medium-sized cars based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA).