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Mercedes’ EQXX concept vehicle is definitely a looker, but what’s really striking about it is its very, very, long range. Specifically, the automaker claims its EV is good for 1,000km on a single charge — that’s enough to take you from Paris to London, for instance. And back.
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According to Mercedes, EQXX’s whopping range is the result of efficiency-optimizing innovations, starting with a new proprietary drivetrain that delivers 95% of the battery’s power directly to the wheels.
To further boost the vehicle’s efficiency, the company has also worked on optimizing its aerodynamic design. We can notice an elongated lower body, a small front, and a narrow rear wheel track, all designed to significantly reduce air resistance.
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Notably, this design produces a drag coefficient of 0.17, setting a new global record and beating the company’s own EQS model at 0.20. And given that two-thirds of a car’s electric energy are needed just to counter air resistance, bringing the drag coefficient rate as low as possible saves up valuable energy that could give the extra mile.
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Despite the vehicle’s long range, Mercedes has opted for a small battery pack, using silicon anodes with ultra-light materials from Formula One. According to the company, “this enables the battery of the EQXX to store 100 kWh, whilst taking up 50% less space and weighing 30% less than batteries with comparable capacity.”
And here’s an extra ace up the EQXX’s sleeve: the electric system draws additional energy from solar cells on the roof, which can produce up to 25km of extra range.
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You can watch the release video explaining the concept’s creation below:
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