By the time its production begins in Alabama, Mercedes-Benz's electric SUV will have gone through an impressive array of tests.
This summer, the EQC prototype is in Spain, probing the vehicle's strengths and weaknesses in 122 degree heat. This is after subzero tests over three winters, according to the company.
Mercedes-Benz released this photo of prototype electric SUVs undergoing testing in Spain.
What's the aim? According to Mercedes, exposure to heat risks battery damage. So the company is paying attention to the battery's cooling circuit, how it manages high power requirements and how the heat affects operating range.
One way to know is to drive the vehicle until the battery is completely drained of power. During trials, the vehicle is also evaluated for noise, the accuracy of battery range calculations and other factors.
These trials come after months of cold testing to see how the battery loses power in freezing temperatures. And with electric vehicles, special attention is paid to the electric powertrain and the battery, the company said.
Mercedes uses a ratio of 35 percent digital or simulation testing, and 65 percent real-world testing.
EQ SUVs are expected to start rolling off assembly lines in Tuscaloosa by the beginning of the next decade.