At the start of the year, Mercedes-Benz announced the creation of a global fast-charging network for electric vehicles. Markus Schäfer, a development board member, discussed the intentions in depth with the portal Golem.de.
It is not enough to provide excellent electric vehicles. "The customer expects a comprehensive experience that is consistent with our brand. "We chose to invest money to pick up speed here," remarked the manager. It is around one billion dollars for approximately 400 stations in North America alone, which Mercedes-Benz is investing in with the local energy partner MN8 by the end of 2027. 350 kW charging stations with the option of upgrading to 500 kW would be launched. The goal is to have 2,000 electric vehicle charging stations worldwide with over 10,000 charging ports.
In the Ionity joint venture, Mercedes-Benz and other automobile manufacturers have been pushing rapid charging infrastructure along European motorways since 2017. They are sticking to their guns and are also participating in further financing with the other stockholders, according to Schäfer. One is pleased with the progress; Ionity is now worth billions of dollars. The one million charging spots Mercedes has contracted to include in its roaming network have also survived. This is an excellent addition to the existing network.
All electric vehicles will be able to dock at Mercedes-Benz quick charging stations. Customers will be able to reserve charging stations, according to Schäfer. When the driver arrives at the charging station, the car detects it via the navigation system and reserves the charging station for him. The charging station's display will show that the charging point is reserved. The need for a physical lock is currently being investigated, as is the length of time the reservation will be kept.
The manager indicated that "premium spots" are chosen for the charging network. "There, we rely on current catering options as well as toilets. We have already chosen spots in high-quality retail malls in the United States." The first Mercedes-Benz "charging parks" will open in Germany later this year.
Schäfer promised cameras would monitor covered and lit locations. Furthermore, with Chargepoint, the carmaker has chosen a reputable provider of fast chargers. "It's about charging process availability, reliability, and precise billing."
According to Schäfer, Mercedes-Benz has spoken with various energy producers concerning the electricity flowing from charging stations throughout Europe. The corporation is also investing in power generation. On the 700-hectare site of the Mercedes-Benz test track in Papenburg, a wind farm with an annual production of roughly 100 megawatts will be developed. In addition, an energy provider is constructing an offshore wind farm in the North Sea for the automaker. With these projects and photovoltaic systems on Mercedes factory roofs, the business hopes to generate half of the energy it requires for production in the medium term.
Mercedes-Benz, according to Schäfer, is also involved in energy trading through its ownership of the Munich firm Mobility House. The company will also provide everything known as Vehicle-to-X, including bidirectional charging so that vehicles can consume electricity and return it to the grid. In Europe, this still has to be made possible by regulation, "but it's the future because e-cars have to become part of the energy network." @via Golem.de.
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