Mercedes-Benz To Open Their First High-Power Charging Stations This Fall
In order to expand their global charging infrastructure Mercedes-Benz will open new high-power charging stations in three select cities.
Mercedes-Benz currently offers five EV models for sale in the U.S. But that number is expected to grow substantially over the next few years. These cars might be world class, but they need the charging infrastructure to support them. Mercedes-Benz knows this as well as anyone and are working on a plan to dramatically improve the state of the charging network. The next big step is the announcement that starting in October they will open their first high-power charging stations. The charging hubs will be located in Atlanta (USA), Chengdu (China) and Mannheim (Germany). By the end of 2024 the plan is to have more than 2,000 fast charging points operational. By the end of the decade the goal is to have over 10,000 high-power chargers in North America, Europe, China and other core markets.
Having high-power charging stations in place will be critical to the success of the Mercedes-Benz EV plan. They announced back in 2021 that by 2025 all newly launched architectures will be electric-only. The company plans to sell only all-electric vehicles by 2030. One of the hurdles the company will have to clear is the hesitation consumers have about owning an EV due to charging inconvenience.
Mercedes-Benz Charging Hubs
“Depending on region, the charging stations offer charging rate of currently up to 400 kW, provided via the respective standard charging systems CCS1, CCS2, NACS and GB/T. Thanks to intelligent charging management, each vehicle can be charged at its maximum power rating. This reduces the charging time for customers to an absolute minimum.” But it is not just the actual charging that makes these hubs so interesting. It is the location of them. Mercedes-Benz wants their customers to have the best charging experience possible. To that end they look to locate these hubs in high traffic areas and dealerships. They look for areas that have amenities nearby such as restrooms and refreshments. Safety is also a chief concern. So, the stations will be equipped with surveillance cameras.
Everyone Can Use Them
These new high-power charging stations are available to drivers of all makes. Of course, Mercedes-Benz owners will get special perks such as the ability to reserve a charging point to reduce wait times. “We firmly believe that electric mobility is the key to a sustainable, zero-emission future. Our goal is to create an infrastructure that offers electric vehicles reliable and easy charging options. In this way, we are actively supporting the transformation to electric mobility With the Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network, we are expanding global charging options and setting new standards in electric vehicle charging. We want to encourage our customers to switch to zero-emission vehicles and thus make a positive contribution to protecting our environment.” Franz Reiner, CEO Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG.
Renewable Energy
Another key aspect of these charging points is where the energy is sourced from. Mercedes-Benz wants its customers to be able to charge their vehicles in an environmentally friendly way. They use green electricity contracts whenever possible. And some charging hubs will be equipped with solar panels. Mercedes-Benz is taking every step it can to ensure the transition to an EV future is as smooth, comfortable, and efficient as possible.
Images: Mercedes-Benz
