Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept car traveled over 1,000 km on a single charge

Mercedes-Benz announced that its electric concept car, the Vision EQXX, successfully completed a long-range test of over 1,000 km on a single battery charge. It was one of the longest distances covered by an electric vehicle.

The trip began in Germany, went to Switzerland, Italy, and finally to the port town of Cassis in the South of France. The vehicle traveled at an average speed of 54 mph while the temperature was 3 to 18 degrees Celsius (37 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit).

The distance was over 1,000 km. Most EV's on the road can travel less than that range. According to Mercedes, the Vision EQXX's state of charge on arrival was around 15 percent, leaving the vehicle with a remaining range of around 140 km. The consumption was a record low of 8.7 kWh per 100 km.

Mercedes first introduced the Vision EQXX as an experiment in battery efficiency. The sleek, futuristic design of the concept car will likely serve as the basis for a production car that could end up competing with other luxury electric vehicles.

The real-world range test is good news for Mercedes, which previously claimed that the Vision EQXX will consume energy at a rate of 10kWh per 100 kilometers, or more than 6 miles per kWh. The tests were based on a simulation of real-world traffic conditions and the Vision EQXX bested the competition.

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At the time, Mercedes said the Vision EQXX's superior range is completely realistic and that many of its technological advancements will be integrated into future production vehicles through the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture. The results of the real-world tests will bolster those claims.

A range estimate is still an estimate. It will be up to the Environmental Protection Agency in the US and Europe to certify any EV range. Most electric vehicles on the market today have a range between 200 and 300 miles, while some earlier models have less than that. The range of the latest crop of EV is over 300 miles.

EV range is very subjective. The EPA's rating system is only meant to give a snapshot of the testing process. It excludes factors such as steep hill climbing and the effects of cold weather, which can wear down a vehicle's battery much faster than in warmer weather.

The company didn't perform its range test under perfect conditions. The route had a variety of steep, mountainous conditions as well as construction work. The wide range of temperatures, from chilly mountain air to more temperate conditions, helped show off the Vision EQXX's performance in a variety of settings. The vehicle did not experience snow or freezing conditions, which can suck energy out of an EV battery.