1,000 km will also "think": Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX released

Reference News Network reported on January 24 that according to the German news TV channel network recently reported that through the launch of Vision EQXX, Mercedes-Benz opened the next stage of electric vehicles. Not only can it drive 1,000 kilometers in pure electric power, but it is also very lightweight and sustainable, but it can also "think like a person". Vision EQXX debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA.

So far, the electric vehicles with a range of 1,000 kilometers and the resulting sensation have come from Chinese automakers. Whether and under what conditions these cars can go this far is unclear. In any case, with the just-launched Vision EQXX concept car, the German car company Mercedes-Benz is blowing the horn of counterattack. At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Mercedes unveiled the electric car for the first time with a "range of more than 1,000 kilometers on a single charge."

The report also said that people never expected that the Concept EQXX concept car built by luxury car manufacturers like Mercedes would develop in this direction. Both the car and its range show that "energy efficiency" is the EQXX credo. In Mercedes' view, energy efficiency is the "new currency" that all high-end electric vehicles should have. Of course, for luxury car companies, energy efficiency not only means longer mileage, but also takes into account the comfort of the car, and this comfort can not violate the principle of "less environmental impact".

Energy efficiency takes to the next level

In addition to the luxury that is worth pursuing, in daily driving, the mileage, battery capacity and charging time are the more important "currency". Even Jorge Bartels, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functionality at Mercedes-Benz, has to admit: "Increasing the range of a car sounds simple, but it is actually a complex technical challenge. The easiest way is to use a battery with a larger capacity, but in this way, the volume and mass of the battery will also become larger, thus reducing energy efficiency again, so this is by no means the smartest way to do it, nor is it the most efficient way to use energy. With the Vision EQXX project, we found new ways to improve the range of electric vehicles and take energy efficiency to a whole new level. ”

So, what new technologies does EQXX adopt? Compared to the Mercedes-Benz EQS, the EQXX's electric drivetrain is much less powerful, with a maximum of only 203 horsepower, but it can transfer 95% of the battery energy directly to the wheels. Mercedes calls the system "a separate whole of electric motors, drives, and power electronics using a new generation of silicon carbide," and the inverter (the device that converts the DC battery voltage to the AC motor voltage) is based on the inverter of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz AMG Project One supercar.

High energy density and voltage

It is reported that the energy density of the battery pack on the EQXX will be close to 400 watt-hours per liter, so although the battery capacity is nearly 100 kilowatt hours, it will not take up a lot of space. The EQXX's battery is about half the size of the EQS, it is also 30% lighter than the EQS (about 495 kg), and the system voltage exceeds 900 volts. In terms of thermal management, EQXX has also worked hard. When switching systems, thermal energy is retained and cooling resistance decreases. This technically means that EQXX's electric drive system generates very little waste heat due to its high energy efficiency, which in turn allows the thermal management system to be kept very compact.

To extend the range, the EQXX also draws energy from 117 solar cells mounted on the roof. Under ideal conditions, this additional energy source can add up to 25 km of range to the car during long drives. In the long run, EQXX's solar equipment should also be able to power the battery and add more range. To achieve this, Mercedes is working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Systems in Germany.

With the help of aerodynamics, EQXX has obtained another weapon to extend the range - in theory, overcoming wind resistance requires two-thirds of the power of traditional electric vehicles, but the EQXX has a wind resistance coefficient of only 0.17, so the energy consumption is significantly lower.

Emphasis on purism

EQXX has adopted a new, purist design style in both the exterior and interior spaces. The interior space is designed on the overarching principle of "minimum weight, maximum comfort" and the fact that no materials of animal origin can be used. For example, the raw material for car door handles is a silk-like fabric that is high-strength, biotechnologically manufactured and certified as vegan. In addition, EQXX uses vegan leather alternatives, bio-based fiber materials and "100% rapidly renewable bamboo fibers", as well as recycled materials such as PET plastic bottles on a large scale.

Lightweight design naturally also places a high value on sustainability, the use of innovative materials and manufacturing processes. Mercedes said the EQXX was the first car to "install MS1500 ultra-high-strength, ultra-lightweight martensitic steel for the body." This flat steel has a very low carbon content and is made from 100% steel scrap through the electric arc furnace process. The doors are also made of composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced plastic, glass fiber reinforced plastic and reinforced aluminum alloy), which reduces the weight of the car.

Cars think like people

But that's not all. Mercedes even promised in the end that the EQXX would be a car that "thinks like a driver." Doesn't that sound crazy? To some extent, this is true, because Mercedes says that in the EQXX car, it is an artificial neural network that is responsible for processing information. It can mimic the natural symmetrical structure of the human brain and send signals only when a specific tipping point is reached. The advantage of this "neuromorphic computing" is that energy consumption is greatly reduced, but it is undeniable that this data processing technology is still in the early stages of development. Even if experts think these systems will be available in the near future, we should have to wait a little longer.

Since the MBUX super-screen on the EQS model has already caused a sensation, we certainly can't ignore the EQXX's 47.5-inch seamless all-in-one screen. The screen extends from one side of the car to the other side of the A-pillar, with a resolution of up to 8K, which can connect the "passenger to the outside world". As for why passengers have to contact the outside world in this way, it is not known, because this contact can be done by just looking out. In addition to the screen, the car is equipped with "a virtual assistant that is visually reminiscent of Mercedes Jelinek (from whom the Mercedes brand derives its name)." This assistant will play the role of a tour guide. It will adapt to the needs of passengers and turn "driving into a luxurious experience."

After reading this, readers may feel as if they are in 2050. Indeed, some of the above-mentioned configurations, such as neuromorphic computers or virtual assistants that can understand the driver's feelings, are now just human fantasies, and the idea that all of this can be achieved is fascinating and at the same time a bit of a fantasy. (Compilation / Zhong Sirui)