Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday unveiled the primary of a deliberate community of charging stations that the automaker claims would be the quickest within the U.S.—and it represents a template for the shape and performance of future stations on the community.
Situated at Mercedes’ headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia, close to Atlanta, this primary location options 400-kw DC quick chargers supplied by ChargePoint. Mercedes claims its charging community will supply 400-kw chargers “completely,” permitting for larger common charging speeds than different networks that use a mixture of chargers, some with decrease energy charges.
The location additionally options facilities like restrooms, merchandising machines, and a 15-foot pylon seen from the road that signifies whether or not charging stalls are occupied. All amenities are handicap accessible, Mercedes claims, and the positioning contains one drive-through stall designed for electrical vans or EVs with trailers as much as 26 ft in size.
Mercedes-Benz EV Charging Hub in Sandy Springs, Georgia
A photo voltaic cover gives cowl for EV drivers, who can sit underneath it in lounge chairs and couches whereas they wait for his or her automobiles to cost. The complete web site additionally makes use of renewable power and is carbon impartial, Mercedes claims.
This primary web site will function a template for others within the Mercedes community, which is about to broaden with a number of extra websites at Buc-ee’s journey facilities in Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia earlier than the top of the yr, and at Simon Mall places within the first half of 2024. Mercedes’ purpose for the community, a $1 billion three way partnership with MN8 Power, is to have 2,500 chargers at 400 websites by the top of the last decade.
Stations shall be open to EVs from all manufacturers. Homeowners of 2024-model-year Mercedes EVs will get two years of free charging, whereas homeowners of Mercedes EVs from earlier mannequin years will get six months of free charging.
Mercedes-Benz EV Charging Hub in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Mercedes is shifting quick. The automaker simply introduced the charging community earlier this yr at CES. In July it introduced plans to shift to the Tesla-based North American Charging Customary (NACS) connector for North America. The next month it confirmed that it nonetheless deliberate its personal EV fast-charging hubs. The charging websites will embrace each NACS and Mixed Charging Customary (CCS) connectors.
With a sequence of latest idea automobiles, Mercedes has been touting an effectivity focus—which might enable such charging to be faster and go farther as nicely.
