Electric Mercedes Vision EQXX completes 747-mile trip without charging

Mercedes has just set a new record for completing the longest journey in an electric car without charging as it continues its efforts to dispel consumer concerns around range anxiety. The incredible fully electric Vision EQXX concept EV was driven 747 miles from Stuttgart in Germany to Silverstone in Northamptonshire without having to stop to recharge its batteries Mercedes even went to the lengths of taping up the charging port of the car to prove the ribbon hadn't been broken for a sneaky charge during the trip The route started in Mercedes' home city in Germany and ended at the British racing circuit via a mix of autobahn, motorways and country roads 'The Vision EQXX was a true pleasure to drive,' said de Vries after his arduous zero-emission schlep. At the wheel for the epic drive was Formula E driver Nyck de Vries, who drove the EV for 14 hours and 30 minutes split over two days The Vision EQXX concept is designed to showcase the potential capabilities of future electric cars and is being used by Mercedes as a blueprint for its next-generation zero-emission models The average speed the Vision EQXX achieved was 52mph, though it did reach up to 87mph where permitted on German motorways Markus Schäfer, chief technology officer at Mercedes-Benz, said: 'Yet again, the Vision EQXX has proven that it can easily cover more than 1,000km on a single battery charge, this time faced with a whole different set of real-world conditions. The 747 miles completed on one charge is 121 miles more than what Mercedes accomplished with the same car in April, when it was driven from Stuttgart to the picturesque Côte d'Azur via the Swiss Alps and Northern Italy in just 12 hours The car eventually took the one-charge chequered flag with the trip computer ticking over at 1,202km The new record of 747 miles is also 294 miles longer than the maximum claimed driving range of the Mercedes EQS 450+, which is the electric car currently on sale in the UK that can be driven furthest on a single charge These are five of the top 10 electric cars currently sold in the UK with the longest full-charge ranges, according to claims This week's journey was 121 miles further than Mercedes took the Vision EQXX earlier this year. In fact, it uses a 100kWh battery, which is smaller than the unit fitted to some of Mercedes' most expensive existing models The concept vehicle's battery pack is 50% smaller and 30% lighter than what is currently on the market, which means it can be used in more compact cars if necessary The car's battery, inverter and 180 kW e-motor - which is claimed to be 44% more efficient than current electric motors - will likely be carried over from the prototype into series production models in the coming years The new record of 747 miles is also 294 miles longer than the maximum claimed driving range of the Mercedes EQS 450+, which is the electric car currently on sale in the UK that can be driven furthest on a single charge.