Mercedes-Benz to set up largest OEM EV charging network in India

Mercedes-Benz India announced along the sidelines of the launch of the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 that it will set up the largest EV charging network by a car maker in India. The country's largest luxury carmaker is shoring up its EV line-up significantly over the next few months and this move seems to be in line with providing its consumers with the infrastructure for long-distance trips in their EVs.

Mercedes-Benz India EV charging network

Mercedes-Benz says that its charging network will include AC and DC fast chargers. The company plans on setting up over a 100 22 kW AC charger as well as over 20 60 kW DC fast chargers. Further, there will be over 20 180 kW DC fast chargers which should see an EQS charge its large 107.8 kWh battery pack to 80 per cent in under 45 minutes.

Mercedes-Benz says these chargers will be placed strategically along popular drive routes in the country. Some of the routes Mercedes-Benz has planned out are the Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla and Chennai-Kochi. Owners of Mercedes-Benz EVs will also be allowed to charge for free at these chargers for the first year of EV ownership, but it is also expected that all EV owners will be able to use this network.

Carmakers boosting EV charging network

Mercedes-Benz is not the first to announce a supporting charging network for its EVs. Earlier this year, close rival BMW announced it would install 50 chargers at these 34 locations, which should be the largest DC fast-charging network to be set up by an automaker in India. These are expected to be 50 kW units which will charge a BMW i4 in just under 1.5 hours or a Tata Nexon EV Max in 56 minutes, both up to 80 per cent.

Further Kia has also installed 150 kW DC fast chargers at some dealerships across the country. This comes with the launch of the Kia EV6. Kia India is also the only carmaker to add a 210 kW charger to its network, the fastest in India. Its sister brand Hyundai too has announced it will set up 34 chargers across the country with Tata Power, ahead of the launch of its Ioniq 5 EV. Other firms like Tata Motors, Volvo and Audi also have a wide network of chargers to support their EVs.

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