To compete with Tesla Inc. for the technology spotlight, Mercedes-Benz AG’s electric vehicle travelled more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from Germany to the French Riviera on a single charge. According to the automaker, the EQXX prototype travelled from Sindelfingen, which is close to Stuttgart, through Switzerland and Italy to the Mediterranean town of Cassis. With a battery half the size of Mercedes’ EQS flagship electric vehicle, the sedan’s lightweight chassis and aerodynamic profile allowed it to complete the journey.
Ola Kallenius, the chief executive officer, declared in a statement that the EQXX “is the most efficient Mercedes ever built.” It represents a turning point in the evolution of electric vehicles, according to the technology program behind it. In order to defeat Tesla and reclaim the title of the world’s best-selling luxury car manufacturer from its rival BMW AG, Mercedes plans to spend 60 billion euros ($65 billion) through 2026.
By the end of this decade, the company wants to sell only electric vehicles (EVs) and has plans to work with partners to build eight battery factories. The renowned German manufacturer upped its game last year with the launch of the EQS, which boasts an industry-leading driving range, in response to years of criticism for being slow to adopt electric vehicles. With the all-electric EQE sedan and the EQB sport-utility vehicle, Mercedes is intensifying its transformational push this year. However, Tesla continues to be the leader in EV shipments. Technology for racing Mercedes hopes to prove it can outperform the American company in terms of electric technology with the EQXX.
The prototype arrived with 15% of its charge remaining after travelling at a top speed of 87 mph. The battery in the vehicle has novel chemistry that was created with assistance from Formula One specialists at the Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains division in the United Kingdom. The cells are expected to be used in Mercedes compact cars starting in 2024. Efficiency in German Compared to other mass-produced vehicles, the Mercedes EQXX uses less electricity. By relying on simulations and digital design tools rather than physical tests and part manufacturing, Mercedes was able to reduce the development time for the EQXX from about 40 months to 18 months.
According to Markus Schaefer, head of Mercedes development, modern cars require shorter lead times to avoid looking dated once they are delivered to showrooms. In an interview, Schaefer stated that “we need to keep up with what’s going on on the software and technology side and that’s a fast-changing industry.” “We must move forward much more quickly than we did in the past.”
