Reporter | Zhou Chunliang
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Recently, the 136-year-old German automaker Mercedes-Benz announced to the world that it remains the benchmark for cutting-edge technology and pioneering luxury with a Vision EQXX concept that surpasses the current electric vehicle by at least one generation in all indicators.
Ola K llenius, chairman of the board of directors of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, described it as "breathtaking" and highlighted his vision of "building the world's most popular electric car".
In summary, as the most energy-efficient model in the history of the brand, the VISION EQXX concept car relies on cutting-edge power system, lightweight engineering technology and a large number of recyclable materials to comprehensively break through technical barriers, reduce the wind resistance coefficient to 0.17, and the mileage of a single charge exceeds 1000 kilometers; at the same time, the model is software-driven research and development, the whole vehicle applies a large number of lightweight technology and sustainable materials, and forward-looking use of human brain bionic technology.
A large number of cutting-edge technologies are used in this car, making the outside world wonder whether and when it will be mass-produced. In this regard, in an interview with interface news reporters, Jasmin Eichler, head of the future technology research department of Mercedes-Benz AG, said: "The VISION EQXX concept car is a technology exploration project that uses a lot of innovative technologies. Through continuous technology research and development and continuous efforts, we hope to see these innovative technologies used in more production models after 2024. ”
It can be seen that this car is Mercedes-Benz's exploration of the boundaries of science and technology and the embrace of the intelligent future. With this concept car, these new technologies will be applied in more Mercedes-Benz production cars in the future.
If a single charge range of 1,000 kilometers is not enough to shock your jaw, then the ultra-high energy efficiency of less than 10 kWh of energy consumption per 10 kilometers has become the highest in the current industry.
The VISION EQXX Concept has an eye-catching Alabeam silver exterior, and when viewed, the roof resembles a smooth greenhouse dome that flows gracefully to the rear like a water droplet. When retractable rear diffusers are folded away, they blend seamlessly into the bodywork, guaranteeing balance, proportion and lightweight aesthetics at the rear. This line design achieves a drag coefficient of only 0.17Cd for the car. This is also one of its heroes in achieving ultra-low energy consumption.
At the same time, thanks to the new electric drive system developed by the self-developed, the VISION EQXX concept car achieves efficient use of energy, compared to the most efficient internal combustion engine drive system can only achieve 30% energy efficiency, its electric drive system will eventually transmit 95% of the battery energy directly to the wheels.
Mercedes-AMG Performance Powertrain GmbH has developed a new battery pack specifically for the VISION EQXX concept car. Through formula 1 racing car research and development ideas and professional mechanical design, through advanced anode chemistry and highly integrated battery pack, an amazing energy density of nearly 400 Wh/L has been achieved, and its battery volume is only 50% of the new EQS, and the weight is reduced by 30%.
This allows the VISION EQXX Concept to accommodate a battery pack with a usable energy of nearly 100 kWh in its compact size.
Not only that, but 117 solar cells on the roof will give the car extra energy. The technology was developed by Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Systems, Europe's largest solar energy research institute. Reduced energy consumption for high-voltage systems, the end result is an increase in mileage. In a single day and under ideal conditions, the system can increase the mileage of long-distance travel by 25 kilometers.
Most of the energy efficiency contribution comes from hardware, but software also has indispensable functions.
According to Jasmine Eichler, the energy efficiency assistant in the car can give environmentally friendly and efficient driving style suggestions based on the actual situation of wind speed, sun direction, uphill or downhill, etc. At the same time, the combination of software and hardware can also help vehicles reduce energy consumption, and neuromorphic computing is a combination of software and hardware applications, this technology through intelligent calculation methods to make the vehicle run more efficiently.
In fact, the endurance of 1000 km is only the conservative data of Mercedes-Benz, and if it is measured according to the WLTP working conditions, "the end life will be higher".
In addition to the extreme performance of the parameters, Mercedes-Benz's "sustainable development" concept penetrates into every detail of this car. Different from the traditional design method, the interior layout of the VISION EQXX concept car adopts a simple and beautiful lightweight design, and is widely equipped with lightweight and sustainable materials, ensuring luxury and comfort while entering a zero-emission future.
The vision EQXX concept car features biodegradable pure plant silk for the door handles, two outstanding leather alternatives – made of cactus raw material and mycelium – and 100% bamboo fiber woven for the seats. The application of these high-performance biotechnology materials in the automotive field not only shows the new fashion of design and excellent texture, but also points out the way forward for future luxury design that balances people and nature with the gift of nature.
Not only that, Yasmin Eichler revealed that the development of vision EQXX's battery insulation materials is based on sugarcane waste, and its insulation performance is as good as the insulation materials used in previous batteries.
At present, most manufacturers like to emphasize the "smart" level, Mercedes-Benz has made the invalid technology of the rabble-rousers reveal the prototype. The concept car uses many digital technologies for user interfaces and experiences to build a highly responsive, cutting-edge intelligence and software-driven future.
Compared with the painless functions such as "K song in the car" and "central control screen playing games", the 47.5-inch integrated screen in this concept car has raised human-computer interaction to a new height.
In such a screen, Mercedes-Benz provides only the driver and the passenger in the co-pilot with the information they need, that is, only the information they want when they need it.
"To do that, we've applied a lot of AI technology. The integrated screen and the sound system in the seat are integrated, and the sound system in the seat warns the driver when necessary. For example, while driving, combined with driving speed, energy efficiency, and current driving styles, the sound system in the seat can advise the driver to control the speed. Yasmin Ashler said.
Of course, these information and prompts will only appear when necessary, and the whole screen will remain simple, harmonious and beautiful at other times. In addition, the car's central control screen uses mini LED technology, which is composed of 3,000 LEDs. When no information is needed, the screen will dim some areas, thereby saving energy. Therefore, the all-in-one screen has excellent visual effects without causing information overload.
Yasmin Eichler said that in order to find a chip technology that can help improve energy efficiency and improve the overall level of intelligence, the concept car uses neuromorphic computing. Neuromorphic computing uses the same calculation method as the logic of human brain neurons, thus achieving higher energy efficiency.
For example, neuromorphic computing can increase the wake-up rate of speech recognition functions by 5-10 times. In the future, more other functions may be supported, such as visual sensing for the interpretation and judgment of signals in the car and even outside the car, based on this "more and cooler applications will be born in the future".
Obviously, even in the era of intelligent electric, Mercedes-Benz, which has led the traditional automobile industry for a hundred years, still does not give its opponents any opportunity to surpass. And if anyone can surpass it, it can only be Mercedes-Benz itself.