Mercedes-Benz today announced that it has officially launched its first charging center in North America at its headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub is open to drivers of electric vehicles from any manufacturer, offering a charging option for drivers beyond the German automaker’s models and expanding the options for electric car drivers.
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The charging center is the first step in Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to invest more than $1 billion in a joint venture with MN8 Energy. The two companies will work together to install 2,500 chargers at at least 400 charging centers in North America by the end of the 2020s. The Mercedes-Benz charging network expands global charging options for customers of all electric vehicle models to promote clean, electric mobility.
“In North America, our strategy is clear: we are focusing on where electric vehicle drivers are and where they are going to strengthen the EV charging map in North America while setting new standards for quality and customer experience. These efforts will pave the way for greater adoption of electric vehicles here in North America and around the world,” said Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG.
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The Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub includes several special features that will serve as a model for future charging spaces:
- 400kW Chargers: The first chargers installed are provided by ChargePoint and are all capable of providing charging rates of up to 400 kW, offering customers some of the fastest charging rates in the industry.
- Open to everyone from day one: Drivers of electric vehicles from any brand can charge their vehicle and enjoy an experience worthy of the Mercedes-Benz brand from day one.
- Charging area: Charging center customers can enjoy a privileged, clean and comfortable environment while their vehicle charges, with sofas and armchairs, vending machines, refreshments and a toilet area.
- Solar Shade: Provides weather cover for customers, LED lighting above for safety, and solar panels on top to generate passive clean electricity.
- Smart indicators: A 15-foot-tall pylon, visible from the street, indicates the status of the charging station: in use, free or reserved.
- Accessibility: The charging center includes a charging station, closer to the charging area, specifically designed for accessibility vehicles, as well as an uncovered charging station designated for electric trucks or electric vehicles with trailers up to 26 feet long.
- Motivated by clean energy: Through direct and indirect means, the charging center uses renewable energy and is zero-carbon.
In future locations, Mercedes-Benz announced it will feature “exclusive leisure spaces” that integrate a retail environment into a charging point. Charging will be the “background” for a coffee with friends or to recharge yourself while your car does the same.
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The partnership with MN8 Energy aims to help the charging center remain operational, offering visitors a reliable place to charge their cars. So many electric vehicle charging companies have faced issues with the maintenance of their chargers, and we often see reports of people visiting charging stations to charge their cars, only to encounter malfunctioning chargers.
This is the first of many Mercedes-Benz charging centers, as we can expect at least sixty of them to be implemented each year by 2030.
Source: teslarati.com
