Mercedes-Benz’s Vision EQXX has set a new electric vehicle (EV) range world record after travelling 746 miles on a single charge.
The German premium car brand’s zero-emissions concept car travelled the distance in real-world driving conditions on a journey that took it from Stuttgart, Germany, to the UK’s Silverstone Race Circuit – where it was welcomed by the Formula 1 and Formula E experts who helped develop it.
The feat ensured that the lightweight and aerodynamic two door coupe surpassed its own 620 miles, which was set in April.
Markus Schäfer, chief technology officer responsible for development and procurement at Mercedes, said: “Yet again, the Vision EQXX has proven that it can easily cover more than 1,000 km on a single battery charge, this time faced with a whole different set of real-world conditions.
“As Mercedes-Benz strives to go all-electric by 2030 wherever market conditions allow, it is important to show to the world what can be achieved in real terms through a combination of cutting-edge technology, teamwork and determination.”
First revealed in January, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX uses a 100kWh battery, which is ultra-compact, with a footprint that is 50% smaller and 30% lighter than the 107.8kWh pack used in the Mercedes EQS.
On its long-range journey from Germany to the UK, it was able to negotiate an autobahn closure and demanding cross-country diversion near Stuttgart before entering France and crossing the English Channel via the Eurotunnel.
Continuing its journey in the UK, it took the M25 around London then stopped off at Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix in Brackley.
Throughout the road trip, the Vision EQXX took advantage of its innovative thermal management system to achieve an average consumption of 8.3 kWh/100 km in the face of heavy traffic and summer temperatures.
The longest EV range available in the current Mercedes-Benz model range is that of the EQS luxury saloon, which claims to be capable of covering 453 miles (WLTP) thanks to a 107.8 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Order books opened for the brand’s £99,995 flagship model in September last year.
Back in 2018 AM reported on a PA Consulting report which predicted that Mercedes-Benz would overtake Tesla to become the market leader in electric vehicle (EV) production by 2021.
However, Volkswagen has recently taken up the challenge laid down by Elon Musk’s car brand.
Earlier this month research compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) suggested that Volkswagen could claim leading brand status in the EV market from Tesla as soon as 2024.