As part of CES 2023, Markus Schäfer, CTO of Mercedes-Benz, unveiled plans for a high-power charging network. Deployment will begin in North America and by 2027, 400 hubs are expected to be installed, with 2500 high power chargers. The European and Chinese markets will follow. These hubs will be located at regular intervals near highways, major intersections and metropolitan areas.
A high-end charging network
The locations and surroundings of Mercedes-Benz charging centers will be selected according to customer needs, according to the automaker. The best possible charging experience will include nearby food outlets and restrooms. The facilities will also be equipped with surveillance cameras and other equipment aimed at ensuring a safe charging environment. Some charging stations will be covered to protect cars from bad weather.
Depending on region and location, hubs will offer between four and 12 high-powered chargers. This figure is even likely to rise to 30 in some cases. The charging power will be able to deliver up to 350 kW. Mercedes announces that intelligent charging management will allow each vehicle to charge to its maximum capacity, in order to reduce waiting times to an absolute minimum. The network will be open to all brands of electric vehicles, but Mercedes-Benz customers will benefit from special advantages, such as the possibility of reserving a charging spot.
Invest in the charging network to accelerate transformation
The network will be deployed in partnership with MN8 and ChargePoint. The investment cost for the North American network will be just over $1 billion, split roughly equally between Mercedes-Benz and MN8.
“Mercedes-Benz already offers what we believe are the best electric vehicles on the market. But to accelerate the electric transformation, we need to ensure that the charging experience keeps pace. Our customers deserve a compelling charging experience that allows them to own an electric vehicle and travel long distances effortlessly. We will not wait for the network to deploy on its own. That’s why we’re launching a premium global charging network designed to become a differentiator and value-creating asset for our company.“, said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Finally, the brand with the star wants to use as much green energy as possible, by signing contracts with “clean” electricity suppliers. Some hubs will also be equipped with photovoltaic systems to power lighting and video surveillance.