News: Mushrooms and Cacti: Innovative Seat Materials in Mercedes' New Electric Concept Car

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a new futuristic and sustainable electric concept car that could one day take drivers from New York City to Detroit on just a single charge.

The German automaker named the car the VISION EQXX, and it's designed to cover approximately 1,000 kilometers, roughly 620 miles, on a single charge according to computer-simulated testing. In perspective, the initial Nissan Leaf electric vehicle had a range of only 74 miles on a single charge, while many modern electric cars can achieve 300 miles or more on a single charge.

The cool concept car, shown on Monday, was made with a focus on being good for the environment.

The interior of the VISION EQXX is free of animal products — its seats are made of mushroom and cactus fibers. The carpets are bamboo, and the interior plastic is made out of trash that would typically be in a landfill. According to Mercedes, using these materials cuts the carbon footprint of leather in half.

Engineers made the car's battery smaller and lighter without sacrificing power. It's now 50% smaller and 30% lighter than other batteries with the same capacity.

The car also has solar panels on the roof that can add up to 15 miles of range in ideal conditions.

To make the car more efficient, they designed it with a smaller front and a narrower rear wheel track, reducing air resistance. This matters because most energy in electric cars is used to cut through the air.

Mercedes, Ford, and General Motors are shifting to electric cars. By 2025, every Mercedes model will have an electric option, and they plan to go all-electric within the next decade.