Mercedes-Benz Canada recently announced its EV charging strategy, which, according to the company, will provide Mercedes-EQ drivers with a digitally-integrated charging experience that is both fast and convenient. Mercedes-EQ drivers will have access to over 4,900 public charging points across Canada, making up more than half of the country’s networked public charging ports. A strategic partnership between Mercedes-Benz Canada and ChargePoint will allow drivers to access charging points from various charging providers in Canada.
According to the company, the Mercedes me Charge system will provide drivers access to an additional network of over 2,400 semi-public ports in access-controlled environments like workplaces and hotels. This combination of public and semi-public access marks an industry first, and additional network partners are scheduled to join the service after launch, helping to expand the country’s charging coverage.
Mercedes me Charge will offer customers an integrated payment function which allows for automated payment and will list individual charging transactions on one monthly invoice.
Navigation considerations are also included in the OEM’s strategy, which will use Electric Intelligence to plan the fastest and most convenient route for drivers including charging stops, taking traffic jams and charging station wait times into account.
The company says that its navigation system will show whether the vehicle’s available battery capacity is sufficient to return to the starting point without charging, and estimated charging costs per charging session along planned routes can be calculated and reported to the driver.
Mercedes-Benz will use a proprietary Green Charging feature to ensure that an equivalent amount of electricity from renewable resources is fed into the grid. Green Charging will be available across Canada as part of the Mercedes me Charge network.
The OEM has also partnered with FLO and Qmerit to provide, what they are calling, “a premium home charging experience.” Designed and manufactured in Canada, the FLO Home X5 includes smart charging features and offers a 4-year limited warranty to customers. The home charging station is certified to sustain temperatures as low as –40 degrees Celsius. Qmerit, which is a known partner to automakers and charging companies in Canada and the U.S., will provide Mercedes-Benz customers with professional home charging installation services.
