All for an electrifying future
We tell you about the future of electric vehicles from where Mercedes-Benz sees it. It sure looks exciting
With the EQ sub-brand, Mercedes-Benz intends to dominate the EV space. Dhruv Saxena takes you through the company's electrification plans including EQ's entry into India
BY 2022 MERC WILL
HAVE 10 ELECTRIC CARS ON
SALE
Mercedes-Benz is bullish about the electric future of the automotive industry and to that effect the company has promised to invest upwards of EUR 10 billion towards electrification of its products and establishing a global battery-production network. Merc’s electrification plans are all encompassing right from 48V mild-hybrid systems, to plug-in electrics, to full electrics as well as fielding a factory team in Formula-E. Mercedes has already introduced the first two EQ models - EQC and EQV. The former is responsible for spearheading Mercedes’ EV ambitions globally and shows how far the company has come from its days of the B-Class Electric Drive that came out in 2014 developed in collaboration with Tesla. The EQC has been developed on a dedicated EV platform dubbed MEA. It has two motors, one for each axle lending it AWD capabilities paired with an 80kWh battery pack. Peak power and torque figures stand at 408bhp and 760Nm respectively with a 0 to 100kmph of 5.1s. As per NEDC or New European Driving Cycle, the EQC has a range of 445-471km. Mercedes intends to start selling the EQC in India by April 2020. The electric SUV will be on display at this month’s Auto Expo.
THE EQB ELECTRIC CROSSOVER WILL MAKE ITS DEBUT IN 2021 AND FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN EQA AND EQC
By 2022, Mercedes-Benz will have 10 fully-electric models on sale globally. Over the course of this year, production versions of the EQA and EQS will be unveiled. The EQA, unlike the concept that broke cover at Frankfurt in September 2017, will be a small crossover with dimensions and much of the exterior styling akin to the new GLA. It’s hardly any wonder that Merc decided to ditch the hatchback body style of the concept in favour of a crossover considering the global demand for the body style and the fact that it helps accommodate the EV architecture, especially the battery pack spread across the floor, without compromising on cabin space relative to a hatchback. The EQS will be the flagship model of the EQ range based on the concept of the same name. In simple words, it will be the S-Class equivalent of EVs and is likely to boast the highest range and highest levels of luxury among all EQ models. In 2021, the EQB electric crossover will make its debut. As spy shots suggest, it will resemble the GLB but with EQ specific exterior changes. It will fill the space between the EQA and the EQC.