Mercedes-Benz reveals EQC all-electric SUV summer testing ahead of production

Over the past few months, Mercedes-Benz has been revealing some information about its all-electric EQC SUV development program.

Today, they are releasing the details of summer testing ahead of the start of production.

Earlier this year, they showed a glimpse at its production prototype during winter testing and last month, they brought prototypes to the Black Forest in southwest Germany for more tests.

Michael Kelz, Chief Engineer for the EQC, commented on the test program:

With the finishing straight in sight, we are now able to absolve another extremely demanding test programme with our pre-series vehicles. But after successfully completed endurance tests in winter at minus 35 degrees C, we are confident that the heat trials will confirm that we are well on schedule for the start of series production.

Now they are conducting the summer testing in Spain where temperatures can reach up to 50° Celsius.

The German automaker is particularly looking at the effect of dry heat on batteries:

Challenge number one is this: the dry heat. Because while the battery of an electric car “merely” loses power in the cold, exposure to great heat carries the risk of battery damage. Optimum management of these physical characteristics is the aim of the extreme tests in Spain. One main focus is on the battery’s cooling circuit, for example: how does it cope with high power requirements? How does an almost fully charged battery respond to further charging? What influence does the heat have on operating range? Battery draining tests, i.e. test drives in which the battery is completely drained of power, are also part of the test programme.

They released a bunch of images of the test program in Spain:

Mercedes-Benz previously said that the EQC is equipped with a 70 kWh battery pack for a range of ‘up to 500 kilometers’ (310 miles). At the time, it was based on the NEDC standard and the real-world range or EPA-rated range would be expected to be significantly less – around 250 miles. The range should be competitive with the several other all-electric luxury SUVs coming to market in the next few years.

As for power, Mercedes says that the EQC is equipped with two electric motors on the front and rear axles for a total power output of up to 300 kW. The automaker claims that it will be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under five seconds.

The vehicle is expected to enter production next year.