A new post with a video on Markus Shaefer's LinkedIn.
I'm thinking it must involve our technology because of the emphasis on intuition, perception and real-time prediction.
Coach for Efficient Driving: Tech Views in the VISION EQXX
Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement
16 articles Following
May 5, 2023
The VISION EQXX is the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever built. It proved this last year with not one but two road trips, from our Sindelfingen and Untertürkheim to Cassis in the South of France and the legendary Silverstone racetrack in the UK. On those journeys, it covered 1,008 and 1,202 kilometres respectively on a single battery charge under real-life traffic conditions.
However, no matter how good the car, its efficiency on the road is ultimately in the hands (and feet) of the person behind the wheel. The good news is that the technology in the VISION EQXX can help any driver make the most of its outstanding efficiency.
Two important displays clearly and intuitively show the driver how to conserve the most power while on the road.
The VISION EQXX features multiple systems designed to help drivers get the most out of a battery charge. One of them, called Tech Views, is a display system that continuously reports to the driver how much energy is being used and generated.
Two additional displays represent advanced versions of features that have already been proven in our production vehicles. They broaden the horizon, so to speak, of VISION EQXX drivers by supplying them with information on external conditions that they may not be able to perceive directly. The amazing thing is that it does this in real time, while simultaneously predicting what conditions the driver might face further down the road.
Moon Guidance says, "Drive faster" or "Drive slower"
When the moon rises on the VISION EQXX, the driver may not necessarily see it in the sky. However, they can find it in the instrument cluster – depicting it in the midst of a lunar eclipse.
A feature called Moon Guidance uses the position of Earth’s satellite as it emerges from our planet’s shadow to indicate whether the driver should speed up or slow down in order to optimise energy consumption. If the driver wishes, they can supplement the feature with an audio signal from the speakers in the seats.
The VISION EQXX's range assistant computes the speed for ideal power consumption. It does so by constantly weighing the variables of efficient speed, current speed limit and maximum speed against one another. It also incorporates parameters such as wind resistance, rolling resistance and weather conditions into its calculations. From that, it determines whether the driver can reach the destination entered into the navigation system at the current speed without falling below the desired battery charge level.
The images on the display look like this:
Standard image
Moonlight at the top: "You can drive faster.":
Moonlight at the bottom: "You should drive slower to reach your destination on a single charge."
Red lunar eclipse: "You may accelerate the VISION EQXX, although that will impact consumption. If you want to drive efficiently, the use of colour in the display will help you accelerate perfectly."
Driving predictively and efficiently
ECO Assist, a feature known from other production vehicles, also helps with efficient operation of the vehicle. ECO Assist takes the destination entered into the navigation system and the map data for the stretch of road ahead and prepares it to perform its next manoeuvre as energy efficiently as possible. With the aid of map data, the VISION EQXX can "see into the future", which helps with its predictive driving capabilities.
In the background, ECO Assist is constantly simulating possible scenarios. It calculates whether the ideal course of action is for the car to enter gliding mode with as little resistance as possible or to decelerate and recover energy for the battery. This is accomplished by displaying the instruction "Remove foot from pedal" on the instrument cluster at the right moment and – in addition to the visual cue – emitting an audio signal through the speakers in the seat.
"You need to drive more slowly soon. If you take your foot off the pedal now, the VISION EQXX will decelerate appropriately for the road ahead such as a steep downhill slope, roundabout or change in speed limit."
The design incorporates a new idea called ECO Pins. ECO Assist reads bends, roundabouts, slopes and intersections from the map data and shows the prominent features on the display. This helps prevent the driver from accelerating unnecessarily or braking too late.
ECO Pin: "Speed limit ahead."
Although, with a range of over 1,000 kilometres, the VISION EQXX has considerable endurance, the constant data transfer with the cloud ensures it reaches the entered destination with the desired reserve battery charge.
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Published by
Markus Schäfer
Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement
Published • 2w
16 articlesFollowing
Speed up or slow down – what’s the best way to maximise
#electric range? It’s not always easy to judge from the driving seat. This is where our
#VISIONEQXX technology programme continues to deliver valuable insights for future series-production applications. Its systems provide the driver with support… guided by the moon
.
Find out more in my latest article:
Would you like to go for a drive in the moonlight? The Moon Guidance feature in our VISION EQXX is a cool and intuitive visualisation that helps drivers maintain the most energy-efficient driving style – as I explained in a recent article: https://lnkd.in/eUg6tvsu Having tried it out myself...
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