Mercedes-Benz
On Thursday, Mercedes-Benz announced that it will enter the DC fast-charging field for electric vehicles. German automakers are in the midst of a push to electrify and plan to become carbon neutral by 2039, and they clearly don’t think their current charging infrastructure is as good as new EVs, so it’s about the situation. Some measures are in place. Mercedes says it plans to deploy more than 10,000 fast chargers around the world, starting in North America.
The new network is separate and independent from Ionity, the European fast-charging network backed by Mercedes, BMW, Ford and Volkswagen. Here in the United States, Mercedes has partnered with charging company ChargePoint and solar and battery storage company MN8 Energy. By 2027, he plans to deploy more than 2,500 of his DC fast chargers at his 400+ sites in the US.
“Mercedes-Benz customers deserve an engaging charging experience that makes owning an electric vehicle and traveling long distances a breeze. We are launching a charging network,” said Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “We are excited to start here in North America with two of her strong and experienced partners, ChargePoint and her MN8 Energy.”
The charger features plug-and-charge compatibility and is not limited to Mercedes EVs. Mercedes also said the location and environment will be carefully chosen. Banks of DC chargers are often located in deserted and lonely corners of mall parking lots, making charging overnight a stressful experience for some drivers. As such, the OEM plans to build a charger “with restaurants and toilets nearby.” In addition, security such as surveillance cameras will be introduced to provide a “safe and secure charging environment”.
At least 4 plugs per hub, sometimes as many as 30
As with any Electrify America charging location, each hub requires a minimum of 4 DC chargers. However, some hubs have up to 12 chargers and some locations are planned for up to 30 chargers. The hub will use ChargePoint’s modular Express Plus system, which is capable of up to 500 kW per charging port, though Mercedes says the charger power will be “up to 350 kW.” And with load management, one charger won’t slow down the rest, even when multiple EVs are charging at the same time.
Pasquale Romano, CEO of ChargePoint, said: “The expansion of such charging hubs will enable the emergence of a new half-hour retail economy at the intersection of innovation and accessibility that combines charging and commerce, providing drivers with a superior experience for quick and easy charging. I think it will.”
In line with the company’s 2039 sustainability goals, the electricity it uses comes from a green energy supplier or comes with a renewable energy certificate. Some hubs use solar power to power their lighting and security cameras.
“MN8 Energy provides renewable energy and related solutions to enterprise customers such as Mercedes-Benz, paving the way for an electrified and decarbonized world,” said John Yoder, President and CEO of MN8 Energy. “By supporting the development of this extraordinary charging experience, we can address one of the most significant barriers to EV adoption: range anxiety. We are pleased that the parties have leveraged their respective strengths to embark on this collaboration to expand charging access with Mercedes-Benz and ChargePoint.”
None of this is particularly cheap. In fact, the initiative will cost him more than $1.1 billion (€1 billion) over the next six to seven years, with the costs split evenly between Mercedes and his MN8 Energy. This is just the beginning. Plans for the expansion of chargers in Europe and China will be announced in the future.
