Mercedes-Benz to Launch Global EV Charging Network

Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out a global charging network, beginning in North America.

The aim, according to the car maker, is to establish a full network before the end of the decade, when Mercedes-Benz intends to go “all-electric wherever market conditions allow.”

Starting in the US and Canada, charging hubs will be located in “key cities and urban population centers,” a company press release said; near major arteries and retail destinations—including participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships. And while brand customers will enjoy preferential access via a reservation function (among other benefits), other compatible EVs are welcome.

“To accelerate the electric transformation, we need to ensure that the charging experience keeps pace as well,” Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said in a statement. “Our customers deserve a compelling charging experience that makes electric vehicle ownership and long-distance travel effortless. We won’t take a wait-and-see approach for this to be built. That’s why we are launching a global high-end charging network.”

Alongside partners MN8 Energy—one of the country’s largest solar energy and battery storage owners and operators—and EV charging network technology company ChargePoint, Mercedes-Benz expects to build a 2,500-charger-strong network by 2027.

“Supporting the development of this exceptional charging experience helps address one of the most significant barriers to EV adoption—range anxiety,” MN8 CEO Jon Yoder said.

Based on region and location, each of the planned 400-plus hubs will offer between four and 12 (ultimately, as many as 30) high-power chargers (HPCs), with up to 350kW of charging power.

The estimated €1 billion ($1 billion) investment will be split between Mercedes and MN8 and deployed over the next six to seven years. Select hubs will also be equipped with photovoltaic systems to provide electricity for lighting and video surveillance.