Mercedes will build its own EV charging network

LAS VEGAS — Mercedes-Benz is taking a page out of Tesla’s playbook on charging electric vehicles.

The luxury automaker unveiled plans at CES on Thursday to develop a global network of 10,000 fast chargers powered by green energy. Deployment will begin this year in the United States and Canada, with plans to expand to Europe, China and other major markets over the next decade.

Unlike Tesla’s own network of over 40,000 Superchargers worldwide, Mercedes-branded chargers will be open to vehicles from other automakers from the start.

Mercedes-Benz chief executive Ola Kallenius said plans for a charging network were a “differentiator” for the brand, which aims to go fully electric in ready markets by 2030. I explained that there is.

“This is about adoption,” Källenius said in a call with the media on Thursday. I think.”

Overall investment in charging networks will be in the “low single digits” of €1 billion, Källenius said.

In North America, Mercedes is partnering with renewable energy and storage battery operator MN8 Energy to develop the site and equipment provider ChargePoint to supply chargers.

Mercedes and MN8 Energy will invest approximately $1 billion in the North American network over the next six to seven years.

“We believe this will be an asset for the bank,” said Källenius. “This is something you can monetize when you get out of the investment phase.”