Mercedes-Benz Launches High-Power Merc-Branded Charging Network

Jan. 05, 2023 12:45 PM ET by Michael Butler Electric Vehicles / 2 Comments

More than 10,000 Mercedes-branded charge points will be available across the globe.

Mercedes-Benz is investing in a global, branded charging network of more than 10,000 charging points, starting the rollout of this project in North America. Before the end of 2023, the first stations will be built in the US and Canada before an expansion to global markets, including China and Europe. As announced at CES 2023, the goal is to have the entire network up and running by the decade's end.

As part of the German automaker's plan to go fully electric "wherever market conditions allow," the brand is investing billions into new EV infrastructure and manufacturing plants. Realizing electric cars won't be adopted without a stable charging network, the brand wants to "accelerate the journey towards the all-electric future." Charging hubs will be placed in major cities and urban centers, with care given to placing them near malls, Mercedes dealerships, and major arterial routes.

While Mercedes has expanded its EQ sub-brand to include an array of sedans and SUVs, including the EQS Sedan, EQE SUV, and forthcoming EQG off-roader, the Mercedes-branded charging network will not follow Tesla's lead in making the network brand-exclusive. Instead, it will be open to all EV users. However, Mercedes-EQ owners will experience the best the stations have to offer, with preferential access and reservation functionality, likely via the Mercedes me app.

In the US, Mercedes will partner with ChargePoint - a company Mercedes is a shareholder in already - and MN8 Energy, one of America's largest solar energy and battery storage operators. The goal is to have 400 stations by 2027 with more than 2,500 individual chargers. Depending on their location and the amount of traffic they experience, these charging hubs will typically have between four and 12 chargers, but as many as 30 may be installed in high-traffic locales. Each of these will be classified as high-power chargers, or HPCs, with charge rates of up to 350 kW.

While the EV charging experience has been fraught with issues for many users, including poor location, Mercedes wants to ensure the amenities surrounding its charging hubs make the time spent there enjoyable. Food outlets and restroom availability are of utmost importance, and security cameras will ensure user safety.

Furthermore, Mercedes wants to ensure the greenness of these stations, ensuring the supply of green electricity, even installing solar panels at a number of these sites to power the lighting and security cameras.

The investment over the next 6-7 years will cost Mercedes and MN8 approximately $1 billion, with both parties splitting the cost equally.

"Mercedes-Benz already offers what we believe to be the finest EVs in the market," says Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "But to accelerate the electric transformation, we need to ensure that the charging experience keeps pace as well. Our customers deserve a compelling charging experience that makes electric vehicle ownership and long-distance travel effortless. We won't take a wait-and-see approach for this to be built."

Thanks to Plug & Charge functionality on Mercedes-EQ models, Mercedes aims to make charging easier than ever, as the car's preloaded payment functions will automatically enable charging without the hassle of pre-loading and approving charging at the station.

"We are excited to start right here in North America with strong and experienced partners like MN8 Energy and ChargePoint," Kallenius adds.

If more automakers could get involved in the roll-out of charging infrastructure, perhaps the naysayers would be open to change.