Legacy automaker Mercedes-Benz announced thrilling electric vehicle charging expansion plans on Friday, involving Tesla-developed NACS adoption and own high-power network development.
With this significant development, Mercedes becomes the latest automaker and the first German brand to join the growing North American Charging Standard (NACS) family.
Mercedes to gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network as early as next year
Mercedes’ plan to adopt Tesla’s charging standard is very similar to the first major automakers that showed support for the technology, including Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar.
In that sense, these EV industry players will secure access to Tesla’s vast and reliable Supercharger network in North America as early as 2024. However, they would initially need to use an adapter to establish compatibility between their EVs’ ports and the chargers’ plugs.
This strategy will give Mercedes and these other brands enough time to prepare the integration of NACS port to their next-gen models by 2025, leaving other major brands in the region that have not yet decided to join the shift. These include Volkswagen, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Stellantis, and Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover, among others.
As the charging standard continues to shift in North America, some states, such as Texas and Kentucky, have mandated NACS integration for state-backed charging companies.
Apart from NACS adoption, Mercedes also intends to develop and expand its own charging network to offer wide options among customers.
Mercedes to expand its own high-power charging network
Mercedes will also expand its charging network, planning to deploy over 2,500 high-power chargers across 400 hubs in North America.
According to the press release, the German automaker expects to launch the initial sites in the fourth quarter of this year. They will feature both CCS1 and NACS plugs.
It also aims to erect over 2,000 charging stations with 10,000 chargers in North America, China, Europe, and “other core markets” by the decade’s end.
However, it must be noted that Mercedes’ rollout target is just a small fraction of Tesla’s existing Supercharger network. The Musk-led automaker boasts about 45,000 chargers globally as of April 2023.
“Our strategic priority is clear: Building the world’s most desirable cars. To accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, we are dedicated to elevating the entire EV-experience for our customers – including fast, convenient, and reliable charging solutions wherever their Mercedes-Benz takes them. That’s why we are committed to building our global Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network, with the first sites opening this year. In parallel, we are also implementing NACS in our vehicles, allowing drivers to access an expansive network of high-quality charging offerings in North America.”
Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management Mercedes-Benz Group AG
See Also:
- NACS vc CCS: Which EV charging plug is better?
- Blink Charging to integrate Tesla-developed NACS into entire portfolio, following industry trend
- Polestar follows Volvo’s lead in adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard
- SAE sets performance standards for Tesla NACS, paving the way for industry standardization
- Tesla’s NACS connector becomes mandatory for state funding, encouraging adoption by automakers
Mercedes’ major charging network expansion plan enables it to offer a less hassle charging experience for its customers. It also aids Tesla in its vision to establish a standardized charging standard for improved accessibility.
