Live updates: 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV launch live blog, price reveal, range, specifications, features explained
It's a historic day for Mercedes-Benz India, with the launch of the manufacturer's first-ever all-electric vehicle, the EQC 400 SUV, set for later in the day (2:30PM IST). The launch of the EQC also marks the first-ever luxury electric car in India. A quick reminder of the specifications on the EQC 400 4MATIC reveals twin-electric motors, one on each axle, producing a combined 408PS and 760Nm torque, an 80kWh battery pack placed in the floor between those two axles, and a claimed 0-100kmph time of 5.1 seconds, with an estimated range of 471km. A full charge from empty via the 3.4kW portable charger takes 21 hours, while using the 7.2kW wall-mounted charger Mercedes will install for you cuts that time to around 10 hours. Mercedes also plans on setting up 50kW DC fast charging stations at strategic locations around the country. We've already driven the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400, and found it to be a Mercedes through and through. All that remains is the reveal of the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400's pricing, which you can catch right here as it happens.
Importantly, Mercedes-Benz India has set up over 100 charging points across 48 cities, apart from the EQ dealerships in the six cities as mentioned.
Customers outside of the cities mentioned can order a Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 online as well.
Under Phase-1, Mercedes-Benz India will sell the EQC 400 via dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
The EQC 400 will be offered with a portable home charger, a Wallbox that Mercedes will install either at a customer's residence or work place, and will have the option of DC fast-charging - for a near full charge in just 1.5 hours.
Ambition 2039 - the CO2-neutral plan from Mercedes-Benz. Kicks off with CO2-neutral production from next year, a shift to EVs for half the model line-up by 2030, and onwards.
Online sales for Mercedes-Benz India expected to account for 25% of total by 2025. Company also says sales are back to about 70-80% of pre-COVID-19 levels.
Again, as per our review: "The EQC 400 has all the standard trimming expected in a Benz. The only distinguishing marks are the rose-gold louvres on the air-con vents. Everything else is exactly the same, and that's a good thing. Its familiar, comfortable, and instantly gratifying."
![<p>Again, as per our review: <em>"<span style="font-family:roboto,sans-serif; font-size:17px">The EQC 400 has all the standard trimming expected in a Benz. The only distinguishing marks are the rose-gold louvres on the air-con vents. Everything else is exactly the same, and that's a good thing. Its familiar, comfortable, and instantly gratifying."</span></em></p>](https://lbimg.in.com/LiveBlog/img/2020/10/370263244eb92e8f1bc539dc6436dee0.jpg "<p>Again, as per our review: <em>"<span style=\"font-family:roboto,sans-serif; font-size:17px\">The EQC 400 has all the standard trimming expected in a Benz. The only distinguishing marks are the rose-gold louvres on the air-con vents. Everything else is exactly the same, and that's a good thing. Its familiar, comfortable, and instantly gratifying."</span></em></p>")
An excerpt from our review highlights how the system works: "Using the coasting however sees the quickest increments in range, and on our drive which wound itself through the Mumbai-Pune expressway, the coasting facility gave us the best efficiency. The brake regen options in either D+ or D++ mode is not the most comfortable way to drive the car and should ideally be reserved for when you're either in crowded urban areas or driving on a highly curved stretch of road. In D++ its also possible to drive the car without using the brake pedal at all, that is how ferociously the regenerative deceleration operates."
![<p>An excerpt from our review highlights how the system works: <em>"<span style="font-family:roboto,sans-serif; font-size:17px">Using the coasting however sees the quickest increments in range, and on our drive which wound itself through the Mumbai-Pune expressway, the coasting facility gave us the best efficiency. The brake regen options in either D+ or D++ mode is not the most comfortable way to drive the car and should ideally be reserved for when you're either in crowded urban areas or driving on a highly curved stretch of road. In D++ its also possible to drive the car without using the brake pedal at all, that is how ferociously the regenerative deceleration operates."</span></em></p>](https://lbimg.in.com/LiveBlog/img/2020/10/85e848a6d31719cee4315668eb0bd3ff.jpg "<p>An excerpt from our review highlights how the system works: <em>"<span style=\"font-family:roboto,sans-serif; font-size:17px\">Using the coasting however sees the quickest increments in range, and on our drive which wound itself through the Mumbai-Pune expressway, the coasting facility gave us the best efficiency. The brake regen options in either D+ or D++ mode is not the most comfortable way to drive the car and should ideally be reserved for when you're either in crowded urban areas or driving on a highly curved stretch of road. In D++ its also possible to drive the car without using the brake pedal at all, that is how ferociously the regenerative deceleration operates."</span></em></p>")
Brake regeneration of energy is included, of course, and the level of regeneration can be set via the steering-wheel mounted paddles. The EQC 400 puts its power down via a direct-drive single-speed gearbox, like most other EVs, so the paddle shifters have been repurposed.
With a Type 2 CCS plug, the EQC can charge at a maximum of 7.4kW on AC, or up to 110kW on DC. Mercedes-Benz will set up a Wallbox charger for customers that can take the EQC from 10 to 100 per cent charge in about 10 hours. We're told the company will also set up 50kW DC fast-charging stations at strategic locations, which should be able to refill 80 per cent charge from empty in 1.5 hours.
Essentially a GLC, being based on the same wheelbase and riding on similar mechanicals, the Mercedes-Benz EQC houses the battery management systems under the hood, while the batteries sit sandwiched under the floor.
Though the EQC gets an electric motor on each axle, the default mode is two-wheel drive, with the front motor driving only the front wheels. This motor is also tuned for efficiency in the low- to medium-load range. When you step on it, the motor on the rear axle is also called into action, which Mercedes says helps determine the dynamics of how the EQC responds when the driver asks for more speed.
