Mercedes drives ‘around the world in 8 days’ in its GT XX, breaking EV records
Mercedes took its GT XX concept out to the Nardo high-speed test track in Southern Italy and came back with a slew of records for electric distance driving – including one for driving a distance equal to the circumference of the world.
Mercedes announced a new, 1,360hp 4-door EV concept, the GT XX, back in June.
The concept uses two axial flux motors and a 114kWh battery, with a top speed of 223mph or 359 km/h. And it’s capable of charging at 850kW – and that’s continuous draw, not peak draw. That means it can add around 400km/250 miles of WLTP range in 5 minutes.
So, with that high top speed and that incredibly quick charging rate, what’s a manufacturer to do, other than set some records?
The Nardo test track in Southern Italy is used by many manufacturers for high-speed testing. It’s known for its long, banked circular test track which allows cars to maintain extremely high speeds for long periods.
This is the track where speed and distance records are often set, and Mercedes set out to do the same with its concept.
Over the last 7 days, 13 hours, 23 minutes and 7.10 seconds, Mercedes ran the car, day and night, to see how it does at high speeds and without a break at all. And in doing so it set EV distance and endurance records set recently by other brands like XPeng and Xiaomi, and even by Mercedes’ own CLA (and, reaching even further back, an old one set by Tesla Youtuber Bjorn Nyland… without manufacturer support and on public roads).
Mercedes’ new record smashed the most recent 24 hour record, which stood at 3,961km (2,461mi) by the XPeng P7. The GT XX, with manufacturer support, fast charging and the right test track, managed to drive 5,479km (3,405mi) in the same 24 hour period, nearly 1,000 miles further than the previous record.
But Mercedes didn’t just go for 24 hours – that 7 days number mentioned above is how long it took the GT XX to drive a distance equal to the full circumference of the Earth, which is 40,075km (24,901mi) at the equator. In total, Mercedes did 3,177 laps of the 12.5km/7.8-mile track. Mercedes was looking to finish the trip in less than eight days, as a tribute to Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days.”
It was helped in doing so by the incredibly quick charging rate the car is capable of, along with a fast charger that is capable of delivering that amount of electricity. 850kW is a lot more than any consumer vehicle or fast charger can currently deliver (usually 250-350kW max in US/EU), and is probably more than is practical or necessary for consumer cars. It’s even faster than the 600kW mid-race charging for Formula E. And it shows that the limits many think electric vehicles have are really not there in reality.
But in fact… Mercedes used two cars for this test, and both of them completed the same grueling test. Each of them finished with a similar distance traveled, only a 25km difference between them.
For the test, Mercedes engineers calculated that the optimal trade-off between energy efficiency and fast charging would be to drive the car consistently at 300km/h (186mph) around the track until it needed a charge, with the car driving an average of around 5,300km (3,293mi) per day.
Mercedes didn’t release any statistics on how much charging was done and how much energy was consumed, but it was certainly far more than the average consumption that you would see in normal driving, as is the case for any high speed track applications. There was certainly a lot of energy going in and out of that battery, and through those motors, over the course of those 8 days, and yet the cars seem to have handled it just fine.
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Lotus Cars’ compelling, high-performance electric sports sedan and SUV received a number of fresh updates earlier this week, but packs superior infotainment tech, styling tweaks, and (of course) a mind-bending 905 electric horsepower. (!)
I haven’t checked the numbers, but I’d bet a dollar or three that Tesla moves more cars in a good week than Lotus sells in a year. Still, Lotus has managed to preserve its reputation as a maker of truly engaging drivers’ cars. Its latest EVs, the Emeya sedan and Eletre SUV, are generally regarded as dynamic, exhilarating machines that credibly carry Colin Chapman’s yellow badge.
For 2026, though, the Chinese versions of the updated Lotus EVs have black badges (the UK versions were announced back in April), but the new doesn’t stop there.
The next update on the list is the addition of 22″, 10-spoke ultralight alloy wheels across the entire Eletre lineup. Both the 600 and 600 SE variants retain last year’s 6-piston fixed front and floating rear brake calipers, while the top-tier 900 model gets a high-performance, 10-piston, carbon-ceramic braking system that’s more than capable of hauling the Eletre SUV down from speed, lap after lap.
They’ll need those brakes, too – because these things are fast, and getting faster with seemingly every new software update. “Things can always go faster,” reads the official Lotus copy. “The new Eletre and Emeya ‘900’ provide unmistakable evidence, representing superlatives in terms of performance. Both rely on a 675 kW (~915 hp) strong dual-motor powertrain.”
Both Lotus 900s can put that power to the ground effectively enough to rocket from 0-62 mph (100 km) in a well under 3.0 seconds on their way to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (256 km/h) in the Eletre, and 160 mph (265 km/h) in the Emeya. The 600s aren’t exactly slow, either, packing 405 kW electric motors (~600 hp) good for 0-60 times in the mid 4s.
Inside, the Eletre and Emeya designs carries over without major changes. Lotus enhanced the features list on various trims. The 600 models now include 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, as well as 15-speaker audio systems from KEF. The 600 SE further adds a PDLC smart panoramic sunroof, 20-way power-adjustable front seats, front seat massage function, and active rear-wheel steering.
CarNewsChina reports that the updated 900 model builds upon the 600 SE’s new offerings with an intelligent, active anti-roll control suspension system.
Pricing for the 2026 Lotus EVs starts at 538,000 yuan (74,800 USD) in China, and climbs to over 838,000 yuan (116,500 USD) for the top-shelf Lotus Eletre 900 SUV. All models carry the same two-speed transmission and 112 kWh battery (102 kWh in the UK), good for up to 610 km (~375 miles) of driving between charges.
No word yet on if or when these updates will make it to America.
Electrek’s Take
It wasn’t that long ago that a 900+ hp car was a cammy, rough-riding mess of a machine that you could barely take through a drive thru, but could probably land on the cover of a car magazine. Today, that same 900 hp in a quiet, smooth, reliable EV hardly generates a headline. And, almost in defiance of the “everything just keeps getting more expensive” truism, these mind-bending supercars can be had for less than what cars like this used to cost with gas engines and a third of the power.
How far we’ve come!
SOURCE | IMAGES: Lotus Cars, via CarNewsChina.
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The welding equipment experts at Lincoln Electric know a thing or two about high-voltage equipment. Now, they’re bringing that electrical expertise to a whole new market with a portable, self-contained, 50 kW DC fast charger designed to deliver a quick shot of range and get stranded drivers back on the road.
Lincoln Electric’s Velion 50 kW DC fast charger is pitched as a durable, compact mobile charging unit that’s perfect for tow truck operators and construction fleets dealing with vehicles and fleet assets that couldn’t quite make their way back to a charger. So, you’re looking at this and thinking of one of those red, 5-gallon gas tanks that helps get drivers off the highway and to the next exit, congratulations: you get it!
“[Velion is] Designed for flexible, mobile use,” said Bruce Chantry, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Solutions at Lincoln Electric, during a buzzword-packed introduction of the new machine. “Designed in collaboration with the market and leveraging decades of expertise in power electronics, our solution is engineered to provide the flexibility customers need today, with a future-ready design to meet the demands of tomorrow.”
Designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States with over 70% domestic content, the Velion charger meets all National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements.
Lincoln Electric plans to sell the Velion DCFC to municipal fleets and state highway agencies, first, and envisions it being deployed in tough environments like construction sites, emergency response arenas, and complex fixed fleet depots. Car dealerships, museums, and probably ambulances too, could benefit – but I’m sure that’s just scratching the surface.
Watch the Lincoln Electric launch video for the Velion from earlier this summer, below, then let us know how you’d like to see a mobile fast charger get deployed in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Lincoln Electric Velion DCFC
The company hasn’t announced pricing or battery energy capacity (in kWh) for the new Velion, but I’d guess it’s something higher than 15 kWh, but less than 20. If you guys have a better guess, I’d love to hear it!
SOURCE | IMAGES: Lincoln Electric.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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![How CATL is changing EV battery tech in Europe [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/CATL-12.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Electric vehicles have come a long way, but let’s be real—they still have their hangups: “range anxiety,” long charging times, and questions about safety and sustainability. But what if all those worries could be put to rest?
At IAA Mobility in Munich, CATL, one of the world’s biggest battery makers, unveiled a new technology that could revolutionize EVs.
Shenxing Pro: Go Far, Last Long
CATL debuted two versions of its next-gen Shenxing Pro battery. One is all about distance and durability. Picture this: a single charge gets you up to 758 km (or about 470 miles). That’s enough to drive from Houston to Memphis without a single stop. And it’s not just about the distance; this thing is built to last. It promises a lifespan of 12 years or 1,000,000 km, with only around 9% degradation after 200,000 km. That’s a huge leap from today’s EV batteries, which often lose up to 30% of their capacity over the same period.
Fast Charging, Even When It’s Freezing
Tired of waiting around for your car to charge? The second version of the Shenxing Pro is for you. It’s the Super Fast Charging model, designed to get you back on the road in minutes. CATL says it can add a whopping 478 km of range in just 10 minutes under perfect conditions. And here’s the best part: it holds its own in the cold. We all know how much cold weather messes with most EV batteries, but the Shenxing Pro still delivers up to 410 km of range in just 20 minutes at a chilling -20°C. That’s better than many EVs perform in normal temperatures!
No Propagation 3.0: Safety First
Safety is a top concern with EV batteries, especially the risk of thermal runaway—that’s when one cell overheats and triggers a dangerous chain reaction. CATL’s new No Propagation 3.0 platform is engineered to stop that domino effect cold. It uses special fireproof coatings and a cell structure that quickly cools down and relieves pressure. In the rare event of a problem, the battery can still provide stable power for over an hour. That extra time is a lifeline, giving drivers the chance to get to safety and ensuring critical systems like advanced driver-assistance features stay online when you need them most.
Getting Greener, At Scale
CATL is also tackling the sustainability issue head-on. Through a new initiative called the Global Energy Circular Commitment (GECC), they aim to cut the use of new raw materials by half over the next two decades. They’re already a leader in this space, operating the world’s largest battery recycling network. Since 2024, they’ve recycled over 130,000 tons of used batteries, recovering 99.6% of crucial metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
The Whole Package
What’s so impressive about the Shenxing Pro isn’t just one feature—it’s everything working together. By improving range, charging speed, safety, and sustainability all at once, CATL isn’t just fixing a single problem; they’re taking on the biggest obstacles to widespread EV adoption. If these batteries live up to the hype, the next wave of EVs could be more efficient, more reliable, and a whole lot greener.
The bottom line? CATL’s latest battery tech in tandem with other commitments could prove to be the building blocks for the next wave of EVs in Europe and beyond.
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