Powered by the ChargePoint network, the Mercedes-Benz charging hubs will be in key cities and urban population centres, along major highway corridors and close to convenient retail and service destinations.
Starting this year, the three partners will develop the charging hubs across North America with more than 2,500 ChargePoint DC fast charging ports that will enable a premium, sustainable and reliable charging experience for EV drivers. MN8 and Mercedes-Benz will jointly finance and operate the charging hubs, powered by ChargePoint’s charging hardware and software solutions.
“ChargePoint remains committed to enabling the simplicity that drivers expect and the charging speed they need for all vehicles whenever and wherever drivers want,” said Pasquale Romano, CEO, ChargePoint. “With this partnership, we are expanding upon our existing relationships with Mercedes-Benz and MN8 to deliver a seamless charging experience for drivers, and turnkey charging solutions at no upfront cost to site hosts.”
Available to all EV drivers, the Mercedes-Benz charging hubs will offer Mercedes-Benz drivers additional benefits including preferential access via reservation, as well as the convenience of automatic authentication functionality like Plug & Charge, enabling seamless and secure communications between the vehicle and the charging infrastructure. While authentication via card, app or head unit will be possible, it’s not required for Mercedes-Benz customers using the Mercedes Me Charge service.
“Mercedes-Benz customers deserve a compelling charging experience that makes electric vehicle ownership and long-distance travel effortless and that’s why we are launching a global high-end charging network that will offer a charging experience to match the extraordinary Mercedes driving experience," said Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group. "We are excited to start right here in North America with two strong and experienced partners, ChargePoint and MN8 Energy."
The Mercedes-Benz hubs will primarily be powered by ChargePoint Express Plus, one of the most advanced high power DC fast charge platforms built for businesses looking to scale their EV charging operations for the long term. Express Plus is the ideal platform for fuelling and convenience, retail and highway corridor charging locations.
The system can deliver up to 500kW per port, depending on the configuration, and is designed to easily scale to meet future demand as EV adoption and vehicle capability grows. With its modular design and liquid-cooled cables, Express Plus can efficiently charge today’s and tomorrow’s electric vehicles.
