Mercedes-Benz has raised the bar for vehicle electrification after completing an Arabian Desert road trip of more than 1,000km on a single charge.
The German vehicle brand’s Vision EQXX concept car also delivered “groundbreaking energy efficiency” of 7.4kWh/100km on its latest long-distance electric journey from the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh to Dubai in the UAE.
This was the company’s third road trip of at least 1,000km on a single charge.
Findings from the journey demonstrated maximum electrical energy efficiency and will feed into the ongoing development of Mercedes-Benz electric platforms to meet customer needs worldwide.
Route and temperatures no obstacle
Even the Arabian Desert proved to be no obstacle to that efficiency as the Vision EQXX technology programme tackled a challenging route profile encompassing busy city streets and open desert roads.
Power consumption of 7.4kWh/100km (8.4m/kWh) is equal to about 0.9 l/100km or 282 MPGe for a petrol-fuelled vehicle, says the company.
Furthermore, in ambient temperatures of up to 34°C (93°F), the Vision EQXX beat its own previous best by a considerable margin.
Markus Schafer, Mercedes-Benz Group's chief technology officer, said the Vision EQXX continued to provide valuable data for the ongoing development of advanced electric efficiency technologies.
“As expected, all systems performed perfectly in the desert conditions, handling challenges such as road surface finish and temperature as well as dust with ease … further proof that electric drive is ready for global markets,” he said.
Riyadh to Dubai
The starting point for the latest efficiency test trip on the Arabian Peninsula was the Mercedes-Benz Centre in Riyadh - and the destination was the recently opened Mercedes-Benz Brand Centre in Dubai.
The route - 1,010km (627.6 miles) - was completed in 14 hours and 42 minutes.
The Vision EQXX left Riyadh at 4.15am with a full battery; the vehicle still had 309km of range remaining when it arrived in Dubai at 7.57pm.
The route incorporated urban and sub-urban sections in Riyadh and Dubai with heavy traffic as well as lengthy motorway sections across the open desert.
Michael Stroband, chief executive of Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East, said that embarking on an electric drive from Riyadh to Dubai was not “just about reaching a destination”.
He said: “It’s about igniting a transformative journey for the Middle East.
“The Vision EQXX’s groundbreaking drive not only symbolises our commitment to shaping the future of mobility but also fills me with immense pride that this record was achieved in the region.
“In navigating this transformative path we’re setting new benchmarks, reinforcing our technology leadership in electric mobility.”
The vehicle has twice proven its ability to cover well over 1,000km on a single charge ‘real world’ trip.
Other trips completed
Previously it was driven from Sindelfingen, Germany, across the Swiss Alps and northern Italy to Cassis, on France’s Cote d’Azur, and then a 1,202km road trip from German city Stuttgart to UK motor racing town of Silverstone.
This latest road trip was intended to maximise efficiency in all areas and examine system performance under extreme desert conditions.
In dry desert heat of up to 34°C, the car’s advanced thermal management was of particular interest.
The intelligent on-demand system kept the electric drivetrain and the cabin cool. And the vehicle’s air-conditioning system was operational during the trip with minimal negative impact on energy efficiency, thanks in part to the multi-source heat pump.
A further developed version of this heat pump is integrated into the Concept CLA Class. Unveiled at IAA Mobility 2023, that close-to-production concept previews the model family based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture and benefits from wide-ranging technology transfer from the Vision EQXX.
Relentless desert sun also allowed engineers the opportunity to examine the performance of the Vision EQXX solar roof – 117 solar cells are used to power many of the ancillaries, reducing energy drain on the high-voltage system and further improving overall efficiency.
The drive to Dubai saw the system harvest 1.8kWh of solar energy, adding approximately 24km to the range, and research continues into the series-production benefits of this technology.
Data gathered on the influence of wind and sun on efficiency was also relevant for comparative analysis with previous test drives, alongside the temperature of the Sun, measurements even included the angle and direction of sunlight.
Mercedes-Benz cites one of the most important factors in the efficiency of any vehicle as the person behind the wheel.
So the driving team it used on the trip were highly experienced experts with specific testing tasks.
To help maximise energy efficiency, they took full advantage of the car’s intelligent efficiency assistant, which curates a wide range of available information and suggests the most efficient driving style in real time.
This includes data such as the direction and intensity of the Sun and wind. For example, the system helped the drivers adjust their speed accordingly during challenging crosswinds along the UAE coast.
For maximum solar yield during stops, the team parked the Vision EQXX in alignment with the Sun using the solar information display (Tech View).
More than two years after it was unveiled, Mercedes-Benz says the Vision EQXX remains an “eye-catching crowd puller”.
During that time, it has covered 23,340km (14,503m) in a test of its pioneering electric technology under a wide range of demanding real-life conditions.
In a region often associated with super sports cars and full-size SUVs, the compact dimensions and sleek proportions of the Vision EQXX draw intense interest, says the manufacturer.
The slippery drag co-efficient of just 0.17 pairs with a sophisticated fastback design to represent a “highly desirable ambassador for electric mobility”. Likewise, with charging infrastructure still sparse in many parts of the world, this was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate long-range electric efficiency under real-life conditions, which Mercedes-Benz says is another important aspect of its electrification strategy.
In addition to the road trips, the company has also taken the Vision EQXX to audiences in the US and China, giving key global target groups a chance to experience a “realistic, road-going example of luxurious and sustainable electric efficiency”.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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How England have scored their set-piece goals in Russia
Three Penalties
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Four Corners
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One Free-Kick
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers
Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.
It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.
The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.
Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.
Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.
He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.
AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”
A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.
Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.
Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.
Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.
By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.
Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.
In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”
Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.
She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.
Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.
WWE Super ShowDown results
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Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Poacher
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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