Mercedes is building its own charging network

Mercedes is building its own charging network

During the Mercedes-Benz Tech Talks at CES 2023, Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer revealed far-reaching plans for the creation of a global Mercedes‑Benz high-power charging network. It is scheduled to launch in North America this year, and the network will be set up in Europe, China and other core markets. By 2027, the network will cover the North American continent with a total of more than 400 charging parks and over 2,500 high-power chargers (HPC). The fast charging parks are located at regular intervals in major cities and metropolitan areas near highways and major transportation hubs. The network is intended to ensure a high-quality, sustainable and reliable charging experience.

Mercedes-Benz selects the locations and surroundings of the charging parks carefully and taking the needs of the customers into account. The best possible charging experience is therefore supplemented by nearby dining options and sanitary facilities. The stations will also be equipped with surveillance cameras and other measures to ensure a safe charging environment. Selected charging points are covered to protect them from the weather. Depending on the region and location, the charging stations will offer four to twelve - and a maximum of up to 30 - high-power chargers with an output of up to 350 kW. Thanks to intelligent charging management, every vehicle can be charged to its maximum capacity, reducing waiting times to an absolute minimum. In principle, the charging network will be open to all vehicle brands, but Mercedes-Benz customers will enjoy special advantages, such as a reservation function.

In line with the sustainable corporate strategy “Ambition 2039”, Mercedes-Benz enables its customers to charge with green electricity. This is preferably ensured through green electricity supply contracts or through the use of renewable energy certificates from verified providers. Selected Mercedes-Benz charging stations should also have photovoltaic systems to cover the electricity requirements for lighting, video surveillance and more. ChargePoint has built one of the world's leading EV charging networks in the US and Europe, providing power for around five billion miles driven on electricity to date. The international company is already working as a Mercedes-Benz backend provider for Mercedes me Charge in the USA. By the end of the decade, the Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network will be expanded worldwide to include more than 10,000 high-power chargers that go beyond the existing charging offering.