The Vision EQXX left Stuttgart, Germany, and drove to Silverstone in the UK on a single charge of its sub-100 kWh battery, mainly at motorway speeds, then completed a few track laps before running out of fuel at 1,202 km (747 miles).
This is the second time this machine has beaten the 1,000 km (621 miles) mark; in April.
The reason this car performs so efficiently, delivering a remarkable energy consumption of 8.3 kWh per 100 km is its 117 solar panels on the roof. However, they are not connected to the powertrain. They top up an auxiliary LiFePO4 battery that runs the lights, infotainment system, A/C fans, and other gadgets in the cabin.
The car weighs 1,750 kg (2,858 lb). This is because of the silicon-rich battery anodes, carbon-reinforced sugar cane composite materials, and forged magnesium wheels with ultra-low rolling resistance Bridgestone tires.
EQXX has a drag coefficient of 0.17. Mercedes-Benz says the 180 kW electric drive unit itself is super-efficient as well, losing minimal energy in heat loss, which allows it to run a compact and lightweight cooling system.
“The journey continues – even further, even more efficient! Yet again, the VISION EQXX has proven that it can easily cover more than 1,000 km on a single battery charge, this time faced with a whole different set of real-world conditions. As Mercedes-Benz strives to go all-electric by 2030 wherever market conditions allow, it is important to show to the world what can be achieved in real terms through a combination of cutting-edge technology, teamwork, and determination,” comments Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer responsible for Development and Procurement, in a press release.