We hope you’re hungry, the Mercedes Vision EQXX is made with mushrooms and cacti
German automaker Mercedes Benz has revealed a new EV concept car labeled the Mercedes Vision EQXX. Unveiled on Monday, the Vision EQXX was created with the environment in mind and built to be sustainable (but not edible).
An outstanding feature is the interior of the Mercedes Vision EQXX and that it is free of animal materials, with seats made with mushrooms and cactus fibers and carpets made of bamboo. The interior plastic is manufactured from food scraps that would normally end up in a landfill. According to Mercedes, using these materials reduces the carbon footprint of leather by a half.
Based on computer simulations, the Mercedes Vision EQXX has a range of about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) on a single charge. In comparison, the first Nissan Leaf EV could travel 74 miles on a single charge. For reference, most modern day electric cars can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge. Later this spring, Mercedes plans to showcase the range of the Vision EQXX in an actual driving test.
Mercedes focused on enhancing the Vision EQXX battery’s energy density rather than making it larger and heavier. The battery takes approximately half as much space and weighs a third a less than other batteries with similar capacity. The usual EV would use two-thirds of its battery cutting through the air. To help reduce energy, Mercedes engineered a smaller front face for less air resistance and a more narrow rear wheel track, which allows air to flow more efficiently.
In addition to the comparatively light battery pack, the company has also focused on making EQXX weigh as light as possible with magnesium wheels and aluminum brakes. Instead of metal, the EQXX’s suspension uses glass-fiber reinforced plastic springs.
Mercedes-Benz is one of many automakers, including Ford and General Motors, that are preparing a large push for EVs. Customers will be able to select an “all-electric option” for each model by 2025, and Mercedes plans to go all-electric within the decade.