Supercharge Surge: Mercedes Partners with Tesla
Mercedes-Benz, the prestigious German automaker, made a significant announcement on Friday. From 2025, their electric vehicles (EVs) for the North American market will incorporate charging technology developed by Tesla.
In addition, they’ll gain access to over 12,000 of Tesla’s Superchargers from next year, joining Ford and General Motors in adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS). This move underlines their commitment to making EV ownership more convenient by expanding their fast-charger network.
In becoming the first German automaker to adopt Tesla’s charging design for North America, Mercedes-Benz has led the way among its peers. Volkswagen, another German powerhouse, is currently in talks to follow suit and also embrace the NACS.
From 2024, Mercedes-Benz will reportedly provide an adapter that allows existing EVs using the Combined Charging System (CCS)—a popular rival plug for DC fast-charging—to charge on the NACS network.
Moreover, Mercedes drivers will have the added convenience of seeing Tesla superchargers, including their availability and price, on their car maps.
But Mercedes-Benz is not solely relying on Tesla’s infrastructure. The company plans to establish over 400 charging hubs of its own, including more than 2,500 high-power chargers in North America, by the close of this decade.
As for Tesla, they’ve been extending their charging station range to include CCS connectors, accounting for roughly 60% of all fast chargers in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This expansion aligns with the Biden administration’s push to broaden charging networks via substantial subsidies.
The adoption of Tesla’s charging standard by Mercedes-Benz marks a critical step forward in the broader integration of EVs into everyday life, benefiting both the environment and the driving public.
