Stations To Feature Fast Chargers, Canopy-Covered Charging Slots, Security Cameras
Mercedes-Benz plans to install its first round of electric vehicle charging stations this fall with its first U.S. locations in Atlanta, becoming the latest automotive company to expand into chargers.
The German automaker plans to install up to 2,000 charging stations in the United States, China and Germany by the end of 2024 and more than 10,000 locations worldwide by 2029. Mercedes’ first German locations are planned to be in Mannheim and its first Chinese locations in Chengdu.
Owners of commercial properties such as automobile dealerships, gas stations, warehouses and apartment complexes are making room to install electric vehicle charging stations at their facilities in anticipation of more consumers driving electric vehicles. President Biden has set a goal for half of new U.S. car sales to be electric by 2030.
Mercedes said in a Monday statement that its U.S. charging stations will be located at a mix of its dealerships and other locations. It didn’t identify the dealerships. Melinda Mernovage, a Mercedes spokeswoman, declined to provide the specific locations or disclose the cost of the investment to CoStar News.
MN8 Energy, a New York-based provider of renewable energy storage and electric vehicle charging services, will handle multiple aspects of Mercedes’ effort, Mernovage told CoStar News. MN8 will manage Mercedes’ real estate portfolio for charging stations, including site search, hardware, installation management and site operation.
Similar Moves
Other automakers are making similar moves. General Motors partnered with Pilot Flying J to install 2,000 charging stations at its truck stops and convenience stores.
Commercial real estate developers are also plotting how and where to add electric vehicle charging stations to retail, office, multifamily and hotels. CBRE formed a practice group this year to advise clients on how to identify charging sites and acquire infrastructure.
The Mercedes chargers will use hardware and software manufactured by ChargePoint, one of the largest U.S. networks of charging infrastructure, Mernovage said. Its charging equipment will work on any model of electric vehicle.
The Mercedes equipment will charge at rates of up to 400 kilowatts, which can provide a vehicle with 62 miles of range in about three minutes of charging time.
Most electric vehicle charging equipment currently available charge at slower speeds. The Dutch company EVBox this month released a new charging station model that charges at a rate of up to 400 kilowatts.
Some Mercedes charging stations will have canopies over the charging area and offer snacks, restrooms, security cameras, outdoor lighting and other amenities. Mercedes did not disclose how many charging stalls each station will provide. A single charging station can have several stalls to serve multiple cars simultaneously, similar to pumps at gas stations.
Author Credit: CoStar, Andy Peters