EV Charging Focused on Customer Experience

To deliver a high quality and safe customer experience, Mercedes-Benz has chosen high-traffic areas and select dealerships for its high power charging stations. Each station will offer amenities like refreshments, snacks, and restrooms. With safety in mind, Mercedes-Benz’s charging will features security cameras and enhanced lighting, while some stations will offer weather protection canopies.

Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG, stated, “Our goal is to create an infrastructure that offers electric vehicles reliable and easy charging options, thereby supporting the transition to electric mobility. We want to encourage our customers to switch to zero-emission vehicles and thus make a positive contribution to protecting our environment.”

EV Charging for Mercedes-Benz Cars and More

Though designed with Mercedes-Benz EV owners in mind, the HPC Network will be open to all EV brands. Mercedes owners will have special advantages, including the ability to reserve a charging station in advance.

In addition to customer experience, Mercedes-Benz takes things a step further by offering Plug & Charge. The integrated service enables Mercedes-Benz customers to automate the charging and payment process as soon as the charging cable is plugged in.

Mercedes-Benz say that HPC will be truly sustainable by using electricity that is generated from 100% renewable energy sources. This will be achieved through green energy supply contracts at every opportunity, or by using renewable energy certificates from verified suppliers. The German automaker added that select charging hubs will be outfitted with solar panels, to power the hubs off-grid.

The launch of Mercedes-Benz’s High-Power Charging Network marks a noteworthy shift in the company’s transition to electrification.  While HPC is small by comparison to Tesla’s Supercharger network, it is an opportunity for the German automaker to shift its attention to infrastructure, as there are significant opportunities to engage with customers as they charge their EVs, offer new products and services, and gain additional insights about their customers to enhance the customer experience.

With plans to build out a global EV charging network, Mercedes-Benz is laying the groundwork for a broader electric vehicle ecosystem, ultimately encouraging more consumers to make the switch to electric cars, and to some degree, addressing inadequate EV infrastructure in many parts of the world.