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Previous challenges
The VISION EQXX completed its first a long-distance trip on open roads in Europe, in April 2022. A second trip, over 1,000 km, followed in June 2022, through different countries and varying driving conditions.
Challenge 3 accepted: Riyadh to Dubai
The third challenge on the 8th March 2024 was a trip from Riyadh to Dubai across the harsh Arabian desert, on a single charge – pushing the boundaries for even greater energy efficiency.
Watch the video:
The Route
This challenging route covered lengthy desert highway sections and busy streets with heavy traffic. It was a chance to test technology such as thermal management and the solar roof.
The VISION EQXX came through
On its third long-distance road trip, the VISION EQXX showed that even the Arabian Desert is no obstacle to energy efficiency, finishing at 7.4 kWh/100 km2 in 14 hrs 42 mins, and it still had 309 km (192 mi) of range left when it arrived in Dubai. In temperatures of up to 34˚ Celsius (93˚ F), the VISION EQXX beat its own previous efficiency by a considerable margin.
The future of solar roof cars
The relentless desert sun gave engineers the chance to test the solar roof, which harvested 1.8 kWh to power many secondary systems – reducing overall energy use and adding around 24 km to the range. They also tested the effects of the temperature, wind and sunlight angle.
Teamwork
One of the most important factors in the efficiency of any vehicle is the person behind the wheel. To maximise energy efficiency, the VISION EQXX’s expert drivers took full advantage of the car’s intelligent efficiency assistant. It takes a wide range of information and suggests the most efficient driving style in real time.
The VISION EQXX in detail:
Light battery, less environmental impact
The design focus was on minimal environmental impact. The simplest solution for greater efficiency is a larger battery – but instead of taking the easy route, the VISION EQXX was conceived to have unthinkably lightweight, hyper-efficient components. The result is an energy-dense battery that’s 30% lighter and 50% smaller. It also slips through the air with incredible ease, thanks to an extraordinary Cd (drag coefficient) of just 0.17.
A new level of digital luxury
The VISION EQXX is more than efficient. It’s also designed to be very, very cool. Silver, rose-gold and gloss black accents interpret progressive modern luxury. A rooftop solar panel powers some of the car’s secondary systems. Interior materials are influenced by nature, and made with animal-free textiles. While on the striking one-piece display, a game engine elevates the UI (user-interface) graphics to a new level of digital luxury, reacting immediately and intuitively to the driver’s needs.
An electric blueprint
The VISION EQXX is Mercedes-Benz’s blueprint for the future of electromobility. True to its Mercedes-Benz heritage, it combines modern luxury, advanced technology and superior comfort, demonstrating the future capability to journeying great distances on a single charge.
An electric global ambassador
More than two years after it was unveiled, the VISION EQXX remains an eye-catching crowd puller. During that time, it has covered 23,340 km (14,503 m) testing its pioneering electric technology under a wide range of demanding real-life conditions.
The sophisticated low-drag fastback design makes it a highly desirable ambassador for electric mobility. And with charging infrastructure still sparse in many parts of the world, it demonstrates long-range electric efficiency under real-life conditions.
