Mercedes-Benz Announces Detailed Electrification Plan

Recently, Mercedes-Benz made an announcement detailing its electrification plan in great depth. Basically, the brand will make a major shift over the next nine years, until the end of the decade. By 2030, Mercedes-Benz will be all-electric. 

In the meantime, if you're looking for a new Mercedes-Benz model or a used vehicle, visit Mercedes-Benz Blainville, your dealer in Blainville on the North Shore of Montreal near Terrebonne, Laval, Boisbriand and Saint-Jérôme. Let's take a look at the highlights of the announcement.

End of Combustion Engines

First, we will see the end of the combustion engine at Mercedes-Benz. Of course, because the company is present all over the world, things will be different from one market to another. Where the infrastructure won't allow it as quickly, models with combustion engines will remain. 

However, where it is possible, all-electric will be the norm by 2030. In fact, Mercedes-Benz will stop developing and marketing internal combustion vehicle architectures from 2025. That same year, it will launch three exclusively electric platforms. According to the company, customers will be able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. The company intends to manage this accelerated transformation while meeting its profitability goals. 

Three platforms

As for the three platforms planned, here is a glimpse of how they will be deployed to serve the entire range.

• MB.EA 

This first architecture will cover all medium to large cars, establishing a scalable modular system as the backbone for the company's future electric portfolio.

• AMG.EA 

The letters AMG indicate a structure dedicated to electric performance products for Mercedes-AMG customers. The important thing here will be to preserve the sporty character of the creations while ensuring continuity in terms of the incisive side of their driving.

• VAN.EA 

Finally, the third platform will be for vans and light commercial vehicles, precisely those that will contribute to the emission-free future of commercial transportation in urban areas. 

Upcoming Products

As for the models that will make up the Mercedes-Benz electric lineup, here's what we know so far. Yet, keep in mind that not every vehicle in the brand's lineup is necessarily going to be for us. Still, it's fun to play the game. 

At the top of the hierarchy is the EQS sedan, the electric equivalent of the S-Class. It will be joined by the EQE, the electric cousin of the E-Class. Thus, it’s easy to see how the nomenclature works; the last letter remaining the same for the vehicle category. Both models are based on the company's current modular EVA (Electric Vehicle Architecture) platform. 

After that, we'll be treated to a flock of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), namely the EQC and EQA. The former model was supposed to reach North America, but the company revised its plans. Let's bet that it will, eventually. The EQS, which will be the green counterpart to the GLS, and the EQV van, are also expected. Even the G-Class SUV, the brand's iconic off-roader, is due to go electric around 2024. 

Divisions

Mercedes-Benz also revealed that its divisions, including AMG and Maybach, will also go electric. The EQS SUV will be the first to receive the Maybach transformation.

Mercedes-Benz is expected to have facilities capable of producing batteries and components to support the project. This will be done in collaboration with established partners. The company will, furthermore, develop new partnerships for research and development and battery cell production in Europe.

Mercedes-Benz's next-generation batteries should make their debut in 2025. They will be highly standardized so to be usable in more than 90 percent of all Mercedes-Benz SUVs and cars, according to the company. The company intends to concentrate the manufacturing of battery cells and modules in Europe, to keep the supply chain close to the vast majority of its facilities. In parallel, Mercedes-Benz is working on the development of solid-state battery technology, with the aim of creating batteries with even higher energy density and just overall safer performance. In addition, these batteries promise to be more compact, offer greater autonomy, and have shorter recharge times.