Mercedes-Benz Fast Chargers Will Challenge Tesla V4 Supercharger

Mercedes-Benz will launch its premium high-speed EV charging hubs this fall, open to all drivers of EVs regardless of the brand. However, it's notably separate from the previously announced collaboration between seven automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, to rival Tesla's supercharger network in the US and Canada.

The initiative will kick off in three key locations: Chengdu, China; Mannheim, Germany; and Atlanta, USA. These stations are slated to begin operation in October and are part of Mercedes-Benz's larger plan to establish 2,000 additional charging hubs by the close of 2024. The long-term plan is to build 2,000 charging hubs with over 10,000 charging points by the end of the decade.

Mercedes-Benz's selection of these initial locations was influenced by safety and overall customer experience. The German marque also plans to co-locate the charging hubs with dealerships and facilities capable of offering amenities like snacks, refreshments, and restrooms - much like Tesla's planned Supercharger diner but not as far as having a drive-in theater.

The high-speed charging points are designed to accommodate a variety of vehicles, delivering up to an impressive 400-kW of power - in line with the plan of the newly formed alliance and notably better than the upcoming Tesla V4 Superchargers.

Of note, Tesla's current V3 Superchargers only offer charging speeds up to 250 kW, with a planned 324-kW upgrade still in the works. Mercedes-Benz's charging network offers 60% faster charging rates.

The stations employ intelligent programming to optimize charging times to allocate maximum power to the vehicle, ensuring rapid charging. These hubs will be compatible with several EVs, catering to various charging standards like CCS1, CCS2, NACS, and GB/T.