Following the opening of a Mercedes “Charging Hub” in China just a few days in the past (with simply 4 charging factors and no roof), the charging park in Sandy Springs is without doubt one of the introduced flagship areas. At its headquarters, Mercedes-Benz USA has put in ten charging factors with as much as 400 kW. The realm has a rooftop with photo voltaic panels and attention-grabbing LED lighting beneath the roof. Colored standing LEDs are additionally built-in into the pillars supporting the roof. That makes it doable to recognise whether or not the charging station is free, reserved or occupied from a distance.
The charging stations themselves are a brand new mannequin from ChargePoint. ChargePoint additionally introduced its first large-scale deployment of its “Specific Plus Energy Hyperlink 2000” product in a separate press launch. The DC quick charging platform, which allows charging speeds of as much as 500 kW, was offered as {hardware} and software program for the Mercedes-Benz HPC public charging community in North America.
When requested by electrive, ChargePoint acknowledged that the Mercedes-Benz hubs are “primarily powered by ChargePoint.” A spokesperson mentioned an preliminary settlement from January envisaged 400 areas with greater than 2,500 charging factors. We’ve got summarised additional particulars on the brand new charging station on this article.
Again to Sandy Springs: as introduced by Mercedes, the charging park there’s open to all manufacturers. Nonetheless, particular features, comparable to reserving a charging level, are solely accessible to Mercedes clients. There isn’t a point out of whether or not the adjoining lounge with sofas, deckchairs, merchandising machines and bogs is just open to Mercedes clients or most of the people.
The loading bay subsequent to the lounge is designed as a barrier-free loading bay. On the opposite facet, there’s one other charging bay that’s not lined and is designed as a drive-through facility. Electrical vans and automobiles with trailers may cost there simply.
The placement in Sandy Springs is the “benchmark” for additional services that may open this yr in Texas, Florida, Alabama and Georgia – a few of them at Buc-ee’s accomplice areas. The opening of the primary charging hub at a Simon Property Group purchasing centre is scheduled for the primary half of 2024 – Mercedes introduced the partnership to put in charging parks at 55 areas of the shopping center operator just a few weeks in the past. Along with MN8 Power, the specifically based subsidiary Mercedes-Benz HPC North America plans to speculate one billion {dollars} in growing its personal North American charging community by 2030.
“The Mercedes-Benz Charging Community expands international charging choices for purchasers of all EV manufacturers to advertise clear, electrical mobility,” mentioned Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Board of Administration of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG. “In North America, our technique is evident: specializing in the place EV drivers are and the place they will improve the North American EV charging map whereas setting new requirements for high quality and buyer expertise. These efforts will pave the best way for better EV adoption right here in North America and all over the world.”
“On the onset of MN8’s partnership with Mercedes-Benz to construct an unparalleled charging expertise, we shared a imaginative and prescient of bringing the decarbonised future quicker,” mentioned Jon Yoder, President and CEO of MN8 Power. “The unimaginable pace with which we’ve made that imaginative and prescient a actuality, demonstrated by the inauguration of the charging expertise right here at Mercedes-Benz USA Headquarters and the websites that may comply with later this yr, is a testomony to the power of our objective and excellent talents of our groups.”
mbusa.com, chargepoint.com