The Mercedes EQXX has covered more than 1,000 kilometres on a single charge

A few months ago we finally got to see the Mercedes EQXX, an electric prototype that promised a range of 1,000 kilometres. It was not a mere concept model, but a fully functional vehicle ready to be used. So we have now learned that the EQXX has just passed a test in which it covered just over 1,000 kilometres on a single charge of the battery. And that under real-world driving conditions.

The journey began at the R&D centre in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. The trip took it across the Swiss Alps and through northern Italy. The destination was the town of Cassis, on the French Riviera. The driving time was 11 hours and 32 minutes, although the trip took 12 hours and 2 minutes in total.

At the end of the journey, the battery still had 15% capacity remaining. With this energy it would be able to keep going for about 140 kilometres, which demonstrated that the technology used by the model lives up to its promise. Looking at consumption, the Mercedes EQXX recorded 8.7 kWh/h per 100 kilometres, a very low figure for a road-going vehicle.

To ensure the charging conditions, the charging-area cover was sealed, and a representative of the certification body TÜV Süd travelled alongside the driver to certify the milestone. Long-distance runs of this kind are carried out at real-world speeds, so on the German motorway the car was driven at close to 140 km/h, the speed limit in the country. On average, it travelled at around 87.4 km/h throughout the journey.

The electric Mercedes was taken along several types of road, including fast roads, mountain roads with steep climbs and descents, and conventional roads. The weather conditions also varied considerably, from temperatures of 3 °C to the 16 °C encountered at the end of the trip.

The Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres, which have low rolling resistance, helped extract the maximum performance from the car. The 117 solar cells on the roof allow a 12-volt battery to be charged, which powers systems such as the navigation. With them, an additional 2% of range is gained, roughly 25 kilometres.

The battery pack offers a capacity of 100 kWh and 900-volt technology. This battery pack has the same capacity as the Mercedes EQS, but is half the size and 30% lighter. This affects range, since the less weight there is, the more kilometres can be covered.

The powertrain cooling is achieved through an airflow that passes beneath the car without creating drag, so very high efficiency is obtained, delivering 95% of the generated energy to the wheels.