On January 3, 2022, Mercedes Benz revealed the VISION EQXX Concept car to the world during the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The VISION EQXX differs from other Mercedes-Benz concepts because it is the most efficient Mercedes-Benz vehicle ever made.
One of the biggest short-comings of electric vehicles is their driving range. When comparing the range of a similarly priced Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle, most electric vehicles fail to keep up. For example, the 2023 Mercedes EQS 450+ electric luxury sedan has a starting MSRP of $102,310 and has a driving range of approximately 350 miles (Mercedes-Benz, 2022). In contrast, the non-electric 2022 Mercedes S-Class 500 4MATIC luxury sedan has an MSRP of $111,100 and has a driving range of approximately 530 miles (Edmunds, 2022). The goal of the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX Concept is to prove that electric vehicles can go just as far or further than their gasoline-powered counterparts.
Mercedes-Benz put the driving range efficiency of the VISION EQXX to the test by taking the vehicle on a real-world road trip through Europe. The Concept was driven on a 621-mile expedition from Sindelfingen, Germany to Cassis, France. It completed the trip on a single battery charge. The results were confirmed by TÜV SÜD, which translates to Technical Inspection Association. “These associations are independent companies that test, inspect, and certify technologies, products, and systems to ensure potential hazards and prevent damages” (Kan, 2021). Few electric vehicles have been able to accomplish similar results.
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge 
VISION EQXX übertrifft eigenen Effizienzrekord beim Sommer-Roadtrip von Stuttgart nach Silverstone (GB) mit 1.202 Kilometern mit einer einzigen Batterieladung VISION EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km summer road trip from Stuttgart (Germany) to Silverstone (UK) on a single battery charge
One of the main reasons the VISION EQXX was able to achieve such an incredible feat is its aerodynamics. Every moving object has a drag coefficient, whether it is going through air or water. A drag coefficient is used to measure the “drag” or resistance of an object moving through air or water. A lower drag coefficient means the object travels with less resistance. The lower the drag coefficient, the more efficient the object. The VISION EQXX has a stunning drag coefficient of cd 0.17. In comparison, the average car has a drag coefficient of cd 0.30.
Additionally, the shape and weight of the VISION EQXX significantly improves the efficiency and aerodynamics. At 110 inches, the concept’s wheelbase is close to an average 5-passenger sedan. The VISION EQXX weighs approximately 3,858 pounds, which isn’t abnormal for a 4-door sedan. The concept has a low-angled hood and vents for airflow. Mercedes-Benz even omitted the typical Mercedes-Benz emblem on the hood in favor for a flat sticker to ensure the best airflow. It is clear that engineers and designers at Mercedes-Benz evaluated and optimized every aspect of the vehicle.
Vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX make me excited for the future. It is an incredible accomplishment of engineering and design that previews what is to come from Mercedes-Benz and hopefully other automakers. I hope this technology makes its way to more affordable electric cars for the masses. That will definitely speed up electric vehicle adoption and help the environment. Since the VISION EQXX looks production-ready, it could leave its concept status and become a vehicle sold publicly!
References
Edmunds. (2022). 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 500 4MATIC Specs & Features. https://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/2022/st-401915826/features-specs/
Kan, D. (2021, July 7). What Is TÜV Certification and Why Is It Important? ViewSonic Library. https://www.viewsonic.com/library/tech/explained/what-is-tuv-certification-and-why-is-it-important/
Mercedes EQS – Fully Electric Luxury Sedan. (2022). Mercedes-Benz USA. https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/class/eqs/sedan
Drivable Designs 