The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX, which was just announced, will have a significant impact on the brand's future electric vehicles. The EQXX, which was finally introduced today to coincide with CES 2022 after a 15-month teasing campaign, is merely a concept for now, even if it is Mercedes' most fuel-efficient vehicle ever.
In the cabin, the EQXX makes considerable use of renewable materials, such as imitation leather made from mushrooms and powdered cactus fibers. Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener teases that these materials will be available in the future.
The front end of modern Mercedes EVs, such as the EQS, has a black panel with metallic uprights. This piece has the appearance of a grille, however, it is not open to allow air to pass through. The EQXX replaces this with a cluster of small three-pointed stars that span a body-color area of the front bumper. Lower in the fascia, there is only one intake.
With better thinking and smarter technology focused on decreasing weight and enhancing aerodynamics, the EQXX achieves its 621-mile range and very low sub-10 kWh per 100 km efficiency.
A number of other Vision EQXX technologies are expected to enter production. The upgraded 900-volt battery pack, which has the same 100 kWh capacity as the battery in the EQS 450+ but is 50% smaller and 30% lighter, might be one of them.
Other gimmicks like magnesium wheels, aluminum alloy braking discs, carbon, and glass-reinforced plastic doors, and the compact roof panel with 117 solar cells add 25 km to the electric driving range, all helping bring the entire vehicle weight down to an extremely low 1750 kg.
In 2024, the EQXX's electric propulsion technology will be used in a production vehicle. A separate unit with an electric motor, transmission and power electronics makes up the technology. The components, according to Mercedes, comprise a new generation of silicon carbides.
A dual-motor version of this powertrain will be available, sacrificing the overall range for increased power. The EQXX's single electric motor produces 201 horsepower.
The 900-volt design of the EQXX will also go into production. This device, according to Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer, can recuperate 300 kilometers of range in 15 minutes.
According to Schäfer, the battery chemistry from the prototype will go into production for the 2024 or 2025 model years.
The solar panel on the roof of the EQXX is also going into production. It, together with a second lithium-iron-phosphate battery, is used to store energy for items like the HVAC system's blower, lighting, and infotainment system.