The Mercedes GT XX electric car has travelled "around the world" in 8 days
Mercedes-Benz has put the GT XX prototype to the test and set a series of records for the electric car's driving range. This included covering a distance equal to the length of the Earth's equator. The tests took place on the Nardo test track in Southern Italy.
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The GT XX is equipped with two electric motors and a 114 kWh battery. The top speed is 359 kilometres per hour. Charging is maintained at a constant power of 850 kW. Up to 400 kilometres of WLTP range can be replenished in five minutes.
With this combination of speed and fast charging, the Nardo test was the perfect place for a record-breaking experience. In the first 24 hours, the prototype covered 5,479 kilometres, one and a half thousand kilometres more than the previous record holder, the XPeng P7 (3,961 kilometres).
The Mercedes team then continued the race: in 7 days, 13 hours, 23 minutes and 7 seconds, the GT XX covered 40,075 kilometres - the length of the Earth's equator. A total of 3,177 laps were completed on the 12.5 kilometre oval. The company set a goal of less than eight days in advance - in honour of Jules Verne's novel Around the World in 80 Days.
The engineers calculated that the optimal mode is to maintain a stable 300 km/h and then stop for charging. On average, the electric car travelled about 5,300 kilometres per day. Two identical prototypes were used for the test, and both successfully completed the task: the difference between them was only 25 kilometres.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
