Australia’s first electric Mercedes-Benz production vehicle, the EQC, will arrive in local showrooms within days, and blaze a new trail in vehicle ownership for the brand.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC, a family-size SUV, is the result of several years of intensive research, development and testing to create a production-ready, all-electric vehicle delivering the performance, comfort, safety, luxury and practical ownership experience expected of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
The first of a new breed
The EQC is the first fully electric vehicle to be offered for sale from EQ, the division of Mercedes-Benz established to guide the company’s transition to electric mobility. EQ will offer a range of options including electrically boosted combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully electric models.
Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific CEO and Managing Director Horst von Sanden said Australia was among the first countries in the world to receive stock of the ground-breaking EQC, with the first deliveries to customers expected to begin from early 2020.
“The EQC is a game-changer for Mercedes-Benz, but also it imposes a more luxurious standard of electric vehicle ownership,” he said.
“Our aim has never been to be the first to this market, but to offer the most complete solution possible to the question of future mobility. With the all-electric EQC, we are confident we have done just that. Electric now has a Mercedes.”
An electrifying ownership experience
Mercedes-Benz has prioritised a comprehensive package to ensure owners of the new Mercedes-Benz EQC can experience all of the benefits of owning a family-size SUV combined with easy and intuitive day-to-day operation.
Energy consumption for the EQC is rated at 21.4 kWh/100km. With a full charge on board, the EQC can travel between top-ups for up to 434 km.
When recharging is required, EQC owners have numerous choices. These include free and unlimited fast-charging for the first five years of ownership at Chargefox ultra-rapid charging stations. A growing number of other public charging stations operated by Chargefox and additional providers offer cost-effective recharging options at shopping centres, car parks and other convenient locations. EQC owners can also recharge at home using the optional Mercedes-Benz Wallbox Home or via a plug into a standard domestic wall outlet.
An empowering partnership
Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Chargefox as it rolls out a national network of ultra-rapid charging stations, which is the first ultra-rapid network in Australia. Once EQC deliveries commence, approximately 20 ultra-rapid charging sites will be strategically located to assist drivers commuting between Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with many more sites expected to join the ultra-rapid network in 2020.
Using this network, EQC owners can restore driving range of approximately 220 kilometres in 30 minutes, at the EQC’s maximum DC charging rate of 110kW.
“In partnering with Chargefox, Mercedes-Benz is making a contribution to the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia,” von Sanden said.
“Chargefox is installing the latest technology in order to future-proof its network, and we expect to see the continuation of significant expansion of the ultra-rapid network, providing the seamless experience that Mercedes-Benz owners expect on route to a growing number of destinations.”