German legacy automaker Mercedes-Benz is set to deploy its first-ever electric vehicle DC fast charging stations in Q4 2023.
Mercedes announced plans to erect the first stations of its “Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network” in the following markets: Atlanta, Georgia; Chengdu, China; and Mannheim, Germany.
The project will initially include 2,000 new chargers globally by the end of 2024, Mercedes said. It will gradually increase to more than 2,000 charging stations with 10,000+ chargers by 2030.
Mercedes to offer 400kW chargers at the new stations
Mercedes boasts that its new charging network will facilitate “fast, convenient, and sustainable” electric vehicle charging.
It stated that the charging stations will support a charging rate of up to 400 kW, depending on the region. It will also offer various charging technologies, including the CCS1, CCS2, NACS, and GB/T.
Mercedes will deploy the stations across major traffic locations and certain dealerships. It will also provide some attractive luxuries, including restrooms, refreshments, and snacks.
The German automaker also plans to equip the stations with surveillance cameras to ensure its safe operations. It will also support Plug & Charge integration to enable seamless charging and payment process for customers.
More importantly, Mercedes will allow all EVs to access this powerful charging network. However, Mercedes-Benz owners will benefit from special offers such as the capability to book a charger through the me Charge service.
“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
Mercedes adopts Tesla NACS
Mercedes is among the first automakers to support Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). It also became the first German brand to secure gain access to Tesla’s Supercharging network.
It followed the footsteps of American legacy automakers Ford, General Motors, and other global brands, as The Verge noted.
With this significant partnership, Mercedes EV owners can access Tesla’s enormous and reliable Supercharging network via an adapter by 2024.
It will ultimately eliminate the need for an adapter by integrating a Tesla NACS charging port into its next-gen EVs by 2025.
Mercedes joins six other automakers to establish new charging network
The joint venture includes BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis NV.
Apart from expanding the region’s charging infrastructure, they also aim to beat Tesla NACS.
These automakers announced plans to erect 30,000 high-powered charge points throughout urban and highway locations in the region.
See Also:
- NACS vc CCS: Which EV charging plug is better?
- Market of EV charging stations will grow by $15.81 billion between 2021 and 2026
- 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’ significant push to expand the charging infrastructure in North America and globally will undoubtedly aid the EV uptake. It will encourage more customers to join the shift without worrying over range. Moreover, it will also offer the brand additional selling points to attract buyers to its EV offerings.
