To the extreme with endurance tester
Even for the basic version of the EQE, Mercedes promises a range of more than 600 kilometers. In practice, our endurance test EQE 300 also appears to be quite efficient, which raises the question of what happens if we really go for it. We point the sleek nose of the streamline sedan to the east and don’t stop until the battery is dead.
Driving an electric car as empty as possible requires some calculation and estimation. After all, the further from home, the smaller the chance that there will be a (fast) charger at exactly the right time. Because we have no idea where this story will end, we initially opt for a charging plaza near Berlin as the final destination. The navigation immediately states that we are not going to make it, but at 629 kilometers, the distance corresponds nicely with the range of 613 kilometers communicated by the factory. Must be doable!
Starts with 569 kilometers according to on-board computer
By the way, we count from Nieuwegein. That is nice in the middle of the country and there is a Fastned charging station, where we can charge the EQE to the last percent before the trip. According to the on-board computer, we can drive 569 kilometers with this, but the Mercedes also indicates a ‘maximum range’ in addition to this statement. That stands at a much more hopeful 633 kilometers. The tactic is simple: we inflate the tires a bit more than normal and drive at truck speed, roughly 90 km/h. However, we do not make any concessions, so music and climate control are switched on. Adaptive cruise control would help a lot when chasing after trucks and trailers, but unfortunately our relatively basic EQE Business Line doesn’t have it. So we ourselves have to plus and minus with the ‘slider’ on the steering wheel.
Exit further
The on-board computer screen ‘Kilowatt hour per 100 kilometres’ quickly shows a value below 14 and around the border crossing at Hengelo even 12 is displayed. From here it goes via Osnabrück and Hanover towards Berlin. It is now abundantly clear that we are going to achieve that. Our ambitions are now a lot higher, because the Polish border is now also feasible. That is 83 kilometers further than our initial goal and therefore more than 700 kilometers from Nieuwegein. Apart from some minor congestion, everything is going remarkably well. There is never a shortage of trucks to hang behind on the route to the East and holiday traffic apparently drives further south, so that the intended cruising speed of 90 km/h is usually achieved. We are now even used to it and it is actually quite nice that we do not have to look for charging stations. After more than 9.5 hours that is finally allowed, but not before we have driven one more exit to let the battery end up really close to zero. It worked: the Mercedes is in Świecko, Poland, without charging on the way. That manufacturer’s statement is certainly there, although you have to make some effort – and be a bit lucky with the circumstances – to go over it so generously.
Ride in numbers
| Total distance | 736.4km |
| Total travel time | 9:32 a.m |
| Cruising speed | 90km/h |
| Average speed | 77.5 km/h |
| Average usage | 12.1kWh/100km |
| Battery percentage starts | 100% |
| Battery percentage end | 3% |
| Battery capacity net | 89 kWh |
| Consumed energy | 86.3 kWh |
| Range specified by the manufacturer | 613km |
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl