Even as electric car technology has made great strides into improving range and energy usage efficiency, a great many people still fall into the pitfall called “range anxiety.”
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX will blow away anyone's range anxiety
For those unaware, the Oxford Dictionary defines this as a “worry” that an electric car won’t be able to, or will run out of power before reaching one’s destination or a charging station.
Recently though, Mercedes-Benz might have created something that can quash range anxiety like a bug. The product itself is a concept car called the Vision EQXX, which looks fancy and sporty with a gorgeous neo-classical rear end. Its highlight though is its claimed range of more than 1,000 kilometers.
Unveiled virtually at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Vision EQXX uses several technologies to be able to achieve such a range. Chief among these is its usage of 117 solar cells on its roof. This works in conjunction with its regular batteries and adds 25 km of range.
The Vision EQXX's from the rear
The main batteries themselves are totally new, and have a higher energy capacity than contemporary electric vehicle (EV) batteries due to having more silicon content. This is then paired with a battery cooling and heating system to ensure maximum efficiency regardless of weather conditions.
The car itself only weighs around 1,700 kg. For a sedan, that’s still heavy, but it is certainly lighter than something like the Tesla Model S Plaid which clocks in at around 2,100 kg. As a side note, this high-performance version of the Model S has a range of 628 kilometers.
Topping those off is the Vision EQXX’s sleek exterior design, which not only makes for an eye-catching car but also provides an amazing drag coefficient of 0.17 on a 140 km/h wind tunnel test.
While all those sound great, take note that the Vision EQXX’s real world range is yet to be certified by tests like the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s electric car rating system (EPA).
The highlight of its fancy interior is a massive 47.5-inch touchscreen headunit
Then again, do note also that Mercedes-Benz has said that what the Vision EQXX provides is “completely realistic.” We can also assume that the said concept car has already undergone simulated testing.
For now though, the German marque is yet to announce any plans on turning it into a full-on production model. Then again, only time will tell, and we might even see future Mercs using a number of technologies that are highlighted on the Vision EQXX.
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