FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its prototype battery-powered VISION EQXXX. It claims it will be able to travel more than 1,000 kilometres per charge and is making a significant step forward in its ambitions for electric vehicles (EVs).

Daimler OTC:, soon to be renamed Mercedes-Benz announced its plans for 2021, to invest 40 billion euro ($45 billion), by 2030 in order to challenge Tesla (NASDAQ:) on an all-electric market. This will include eight additional battery factories. According to Daimler (OTC:), all new platforms for its vehicles will make EVs starting 2025.

According to Daimler, the VISION EQXXX is the most efficient Mercedes-Benz vehicle ever made. It will consume less energy per 100 kilometers than 10 kWh (kilowatt hour)

According to data from Tesla, the Model S 60 consumes currently 18.1kWh for that distance.

Ola Kaellenius (CEO Mercedes-Benz) stated, “The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXXX is the way we envision the future electric cars.”

The prototype will be tested on different types of terrain by Daimler before its mid-year deadline, Markus Schaefer (CTO) told reporters Monday.

Schaefer indicated that parts of the prototype could be made available for Mercedes-Benz cars in two- to three years. But, Schaefer declined to give a date for when the 1000-km-range battery will be available on the market.

Schaefer claimed that they will be among the first to display a 1,000-km-range car in reality with such small batteries.

He said that it was a market decision to determine when such a vehicle will go on sale after the carmaker has established what range and price customers are willing to pay.

Mercedes-Benz stated that the prototype was built in 18 months and “puts an ending to range anxiety”, referring to one reason why EVs are not more popular.

A new battery pack was developed to meet the requirements of this compact car. The energy density (measures how many power batteries have compared with their size) is around 400 watt hours per Liter.

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