text: Mercedes EV Models | Mercedes Benz electric car strategy | WattEV2Buy - Part 2
  Mercedes Electric Vehicles
  Wilko Andreas Stark, Vice President Daimler Strategy & Mercedes-Benz Cars Product Strategy and planning, highlights the importance placed on electric mobility at Mercedes-Benz: "For us, it's not a question of whether electric mobility will take off, but when. The goal of MB is to be the leader in this green technology. And we already offer our customers convincing solutions where daily usability, flexibility, and affordability are concerned."
  Daimler has been credited by Elon Musk that it saved Tesla from bankruptcy in 2009 when it invested $50 million for a 9% stake in the electric vehicle manufacturer.
  By 2017, ten new PLUG-IN HYBRID vehicles will have been launched as part of the hybrid offensive strategy, and this will include SUV models such as the new GLE and GLC. The S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID¹ spearheads the PLUG-IN HYBRID model line-up: this luxury saloon combines the performance of an eight-cylinder engine with the consumption of a compact vehicle – and 33 kilometers can be driven on purely electric power alone. The MB C350e is the first model to sport the new "e" abbreviation which denotes its electrified drive system.
  Daimler has for years been developing from an automobile manufacturer into a mobility provider. The focus is no longer solely on the car as a product, but also on services related to mobility. Electric- and plug-in vehicles, for example, include an MB Wallbox installation service, and also exclusive Mercedes me connect functions. Another aspect of the corporate strategy is to offer new, innovative services for flexible and networked mobility. Moovel provides the fastest connection between two places, taking all means of transport into consideration.
  The "Charge&Pay for Mercedes-Benz" makes charging and paying at public charging stations particularly easy. With the "connect me" services and associated "remote vehicle status" function, you can check the charge status and vehicle range as well as search for the nearest charging station.
  Mercedes Marque EV brands
  Mercedes Pure Electric Models
  B250e ED
  Mercedes Plug-in Hybrid Electric Models
  A250e 4Matic
  A250e L 4Matic
  GLE350de 4MATIC
  C Class PHEV
  C300e Estate
  S560e 9G-TRONIC EQ
  Mercedes Fuel Cell Electric Models
  Mercedes Concept EV Models
  Mercedes Commercial EV Models
  Mercedes Self-driving Models
  F015 A-EV
  Mercedes Electric Car Strategy in the news
  2018 Week 25 Mercedes Benz considers EV plant in China
  The Times of India reported that Mercedes is considering an EV assembly line at its facility in Chakan in Pune, India. According to the article, Mercedes identified India as a key market for electric mobility.
  "As the Indian market moves towards electrics, we will be investigating local manufacturing here. As part of our long-term perspective (on India), we want to manufacture here," Mercedes-Benz India VP (sales & marketing) Michael Jopp told TOI. "When it happens, we would certainly manufacture them at our plant in Chakan, alongside the combustion engine vehicles."
  Mr. Jopp went further saying that the plans are dependent on the Indian Government following through with its support for the industry, a sentiment also voiced by Nissan Chairman earlier this year.
  2018 Week 10 Mercedes Benz upgrades C and E Class plug-in drivetrain
  Mercedes Benz announced presented pre-production cars of its E and C Class plug-in electric models, including the C-Class Estate PHEV. The Mercedes Benz E350e and C350e are expected in the late summer of 2018. Mercedes upgraded the two models to the same drivetrain as the S560e unveiled late 2017. The improved drivetrain offers am a NECD range of 50km/32miles due to a 13.5kWh, up from the 6.4kWh in the previous generation. The drivetrain also includes a larger onboard charger of 7.2kW for faster battery charging and a more powerful 90kW/121hp electric motor. Click here for detailed specs of 2018 E350e and C350e.
  2018 Week 10 Mercedes Benz unveils new wallbox
  Mercedes Benz also unveiled its latest wall box enabling 22kW charging from the new elegant housing with cable management. The new wall box also allows the user to various functions from a smartphone including charging control, user management, and consumption overview. The wall box is available from this summer in Europe and 40 other markets. The wall box is available in as a basic 22kW charger, the internet-capable Wallbox Advanced and the Wallbox Twin for charging two vehicles at the same time at 11kW. The Advanced and Twin wall boxes is equipped with a built-in electricity meter and allow access control by RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The RFID control makes it possible to manage several vehicles of different users, which is especially attractive for fleets – as well as for office communities or apartment buildings.
  2018 Week 8 Mercedes Benz eActros Truck pilot starts
  Mercedes announced that it would pilot ten of its eActros electric trucks with customers. At first, the focus will be on inner-city goods and delivery traffic, as the Mercedes-Benz eActros is well capable of covering the ranges required in this sector. The pilot customers will test the vehicles in real operations for twelve months, and the trucks will then go a second round of customers for a further twelve months. The innovation fleet will, therefore, be in operation until at least mid-2020. The aim is to achieve series production maturity for economically competitive electric trucks for heavy inner-city distribution operations from 2021.
  The Mercedes eActros Truck has a range of 200km provided through a 240kWh lithium battery and is charged through a system with more than 400V and a 1000A current.
  2018 Week 7 Mercedes Benz at the Geneva Auto Show
  2018 Week 6 Mercedes Benz identifies hubs for EV production
  In a press statement, this week Mercedes set out its EV production plans through to 2023 when it aims to electrify its complete model range, offering 50 electrified vehicles of which ten would be pure electric. According to Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain, Markus Schäfer, Mercedes will assemble EVs at six plants on three continents and produce batteries in-house at two plants. The Mercedes EV strategy as set out this week includes battery production and assembly operations with its Chinese JV BBAC with local partner BAIC in Beijing. Chronologically the plan which will see the investment of ten billion euros in assembly and a further one billion euros in battery production will be as follows:
  Electric hubs are already being built around the globe;
  2017 saw the start of the production of the Smart ED in Hambach, Germany, the first of the company's fourth-generation EV technology;
  Completion of the second battery factory in Kamenz and intensify preparations for the EQC at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen in 2018;
  Production of the EQC SUV in Bremen in 2019;
  Production of the EQC in China at the BBAC plant in Beijing;
  Production of SUV, compact, upper and luxury class vehicles at plants in Rastatt, Sindelfingen, and Tuscaloosa (USA)
  2017 Week 48 Mercedes Benz at LA Auto Show
  2017 Week 38 Mercedes Benz to invest $1 Bln in the USA
  Mercedes Benz announced a $1 billion investment in its Tuscaloosa plant. The upgrade will include a battery plant, making its fifth spread over three continents, China, Europe and the USA. The plant will manufacture SUV models for the company's EQ brand.
  2017 Week 37 Mercedes Benz EV strategy update
  Mercedes Benz CEO, Dieter Zetsche, was cited by Autoblog as indicating that the German automaker would produce 50 electrified versions of its models by 2022.
  2017 Week 37 Mercedes Benz introduces new EV models
  Mercedes Benz unveiled the third generation hybrid transmission Mercedes-Benz S 560 e PHEV. The S series Mercedes Benz has a range of 50km / 31miles, a combined fuel consumption of 2.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions of49 g/km and weighted power consumption of 15.5 kWh/100 km. Daimler also delivered the first Fuso eCanter in the USA to UPS.
  2017 Week 37 Mercedes Benz at the Frankfurt Auto Show
  Mercedes Benz presented three different alternative powered vehicles at its stand at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the Mercedes AMG Project One PHEV, the GLC F Cell, a fuel cell vehicle, and the EQA EV pure electric vehicle.
  2017 Week 30 Mercedes to join Formula E
  2017 Week 27 Daimler and BAIC deepens co-operation around EVs
  2017 Week 20 Electrified public transport gets a leg up this week
  2017 Week 13 Daimler accelerates it electric vehicle program
  Daimler this week, after a board meeting in Berlin, announced that it would accelerate its $11 billion investment in electric vehicles by bringing it forward with three years from 2025, as announced last year to 2022. Reuters reported that the automaker's aggressive stance is the result of it not being able to cut fleet emissions of 123gm CO2/km from 2015 to 2016 in Europe. Europe has set a very stringent target of 95gm CO2/km by 2020. Daimler's own target for 2020 is 100gm CO2. The German automaker cites the popularity of SUVs as the reason for it not cutting its emissions for the first time since 2007.
  2017 Week 12 Mercedes-Benz EQ hit by trademark complaint
  A trademark complaint in China filed by Chery Auto will hamper Mercedes-Benz new electric vehicle brand EQ's international aspirations. The Chery eQ, one of the most popular EV micro car's in China over the last two years share too much similarity for the German automaker to be allowed to use the name in the worlds' largest electric vehicle market. The Chery eQ sold around 25,000 units since it's launch in 2015, making it one of the top 10 electric vehicles in the country. Mercedes-Benz launched the EQ brand at the Paris Auto Show in late 2016 to house all its electric vehicle products and services. One can only wonder how a large corporation could have let that one slide! The EQ brand stands for "Electric Intelligence" and is the spearhead for Daimler's efforts to have electric vehicles represent between 15% and 25% of its global sales
  2017 Week 10 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Concept unveiled
  2017 Week 7 Mercedes-Benz USA to only sell electric Smart models in the USA and Canada
  2017 Week 5 Daimler and Uber to co-operate on self-driving cars
  2017 Week 4 Arnold Schwarzenegger upgrades a Galant Wagen to a full electric vehicle
  Off-course it is expected when Arnold Schwarzenegger buys an electric vehicle it will not be a Chevy Bolt, but damn the man knows how to get what he wants. The movie star turned politician unveiled his converted Mercedes Galant Wagen in Austria recently. The Kriesel converted G-Wagen SUV sports an 80kWh battery pack producing 482hp which accelerates the vehicle from 0 – 60mph in 5.6 seconds with a 185-mile range (296km).
  2016 Week 48 Daimler to invest $11Bln in electric vehicles
  Reuters reported that Daimler plans to invest $11Bln in electric vehicle research and development. Daimler's Research & Development Head, Thomas Weber was quoted in telling the German publication, Stuttgarter Zeitung that "By 2025 we want to develop ten electric cars based on the same architecture,". The automaker targets increasing cruising ranges above 700km (430 miles).
  2016 Week 45 Los Angeles Auto Show 2016
  Although not as electric vehicle focused as the Paris Auto Show earlier the year, the Los Angeles Auto Show to be held this coming week promises to provide further insight in how automakers gear up for their respective electric vehicle strategies. Vehicle Manufacturers to keep an eye out for is Hyundai, Land Rover, GM, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, and Nissan. Market commentators will also be looking at how some manufacturers utilize the low fuel cost environment to bring more SUVs and crossovers to the market. The consumer's appetite for these vehicles in the low fuel environment has long been the Achilles heel for the addition of EV vehicles, adding to an ever-increasing glut of sedan vehicles.
  2016 Week 39 EQ sub-brand
  Mercedes finally publically unveiled its new all-electric car brand, the EQ (Electric Intelligence). The brand will develop a host of EV related services and products, not just cars, such as charging stations and battery packs. The first vehicle to come from the brand is targeted at the highly popular SUV segment, a clever move to differentiate the brand in this hotly contested sector. The Generation EQ SUV with a battery capacity of 70kWh providing a range of over 250miles powering two electric motors providing 300kW of power. The production version is expected to be launched in 2018.
  2016 Week 32 Strategy, sub-brand
  Mercedes registered its EQ model series as it paves the ay for its MEQ sub-brand of electric vehicles. The EQ model series would be the company's answer to the BMW i Series. The registration included the whole alphabet, from EQA to EQX slogans including 'EQ inside', 'EQ boost' and 'Generation MEQ'.
  2016 Week 31 Electric Truck
  Mercedes presented the first electric truck, with a range of 200km. The release forms part of the company's efforts to challenge BMW and Tesla's dominance in the segment. As previously reported in our June newsletter, Mercedes will announce the formation of a new company to house all its electric models. Mercedes set the announcement for September.
  2016 Week 29 Strategy
  The electric vehicles market gained further traction as Daimler's CEO, Dieter Zetsche acknowledged the technology's importance and expected an increase in market share. The German automaker shifted its strategy to accelerate its efforts to stay abreast of its competitors, Tesla and BMW's push to ramp up production in the luxury electric vehicle segment.
  2016 Week 25 Strategy, Sub brand
  MERCEDES BENZ contemplates creating an alternative brand to house it's electric vehicle models in. According to the German business publication, the announcement would be made in September.