Mercedes-Benz to build global charging network for electric vehicles The network should have more than 10,000 fast chargers by the end of the decade. These are accessible to all electric vehicles.
The German carmaker announced this at the recent CES 2023 in Las Vegas, USA. The launch of the charging network will begin in North America. At a later stage, the carmaker will start building a network in Europe, China and other key markets. The North American network is scheduled to be completed by 2027. This network will then consist of more than 400 hubs, with a total of more than 2,500 fast chargers.
More than 10,000 fast chargers
The global network should eventually include more than 10,000 fast chargers. It is not known when construction will begin in Europe. It’s also unclear how many of the 10,000 fast chargers will be in Europe.
Depending on region and location, Mercedes-Benz sets up hubs with four to twelve fast chargers. Over time, the company plans to expand this number to thirty chargers. These are called ‘high-power chargers’ (HPC) and have a charge capacity of 350 kW.
Reduce waiting time
Mercedes-Benz uses intelligent technology to ensure vehicles are charged as quickly as possible, thereby reducing waiting times at charging stations. The car manufacturer is opening the charging network for all brands of vehicles. Mercedes-Benz customers receive special benefits, including the option to reserve a charging station.
The carmaker wants to offer users of the centers the option of charging with green electricity. The company intends to guarantee this through supply contracts for green electricity and otherwise by using renewable energy certificates from approved suppliers. Mercedes-Benz is equipping several charging stations with solar panels, which provide power for lighting and video surveillance at the centers, among other things.
MN8 Energy and Chargepoint as partners
So the project will start in North America. Mercedes-Benz is working with partners MN8 Energy and ChargePoint. MN8 Energy is a major solar and battery storage operator in the United States. Mercedes-Benz wants to give its customers in the US as much access to charging with green electricity as possible through the collaboration with this company. ChargePoint operates an extensive electric vehicle charging network in both the US and Europe. This partner has been operating as a back-end provider for Mercedes MeCharge in the US for some time, providing access to charging stations.
“At Mercedes-Benz, we are fully committed to making charging electric vehicles easy and accessible. “By choosing MN8 Energy and ChargePoint as our partners in North America – two leaders in their fields – we can continue the transition to an electric future, one of the key pillars of our holistic, sustainable business strategy,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management, Chief Technology Officer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Officer, Development and Procurement.
The German carmaker also says the charging stations will meet the “broader needs” of customers. Think about nearby restaurants and restrooms. Additionally, the charging points are equipped with surveillance cameras and other facilities with a security perspective. Some charging stations are closed.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Mercedes-Benz
