Mercedes-Benz Hits 100 North American High-Power Charging Sites Milestone
The automaker expands its American charging infrastructure while divesting from European operations.
1Network Expansion Milestone
Mercedes-Benz has officially reached 100 high-power charging locations across North America, marking a significant three-year growth period. The network now encompasses nearly 1,000 individual charging ports spread throughout 28 U.S. states and British Columbia. This infrastructure supports over 245,000 unique drivers who have completed more than 550,000 total charging sessions.
2Technical Charging Capabilities
Each station within the network is engineered to deliver up to 400 kilowatts of power, facilitating rapid energy replenishment for modern electric vehicles. To ensure broad compatibility, the vast majority of these stalls feature both CCS and NACS connectors. Only 3% of the current sites remain limited exclusively to CCS hardware.
3Focus on Reliability Metrics
Beyond maintaining high uptime, the company has prioritized its first-time success rate as a primary performance indicator. This metric, representing sessions that initiate correctly on the first attempt, has improved from approximately 84% in 2023 to over 90% today. This focus aims to eliminate common frustrations associated with public charging infrastructure.
4Strategic Operational Divergence
While the North American network continues to expand, Mercedes-Benz recently divested its European charging business. The company sold 47 European hubs to the French operator Electra, citing the charging business as outside its core focus. Conversely, the North American division remains active, recently appointing Madeline Ebert as its new CEO.
5Pricing and Site Logistics
Charging costs fluctuate between $0.35 and $0.60 per kilowatt-hour, depending on the specific location. These stations are strategically positioned near premium shopping centers to enhance user convenience. A $25 pre-authorization fee is temporarily held to verify funds, with the final charge calculated based on the actual energy consumed during the session.
6Diverse Infrastructure Landscape
The largest facility in the network is located in Orlando, Florida, featuring 20 individual stalls. Smaller operations, such as those in Conyers, Georgia, and Red Bluff, California, maintain four stalls each. The network utilizes hardware from providers like ChargePoint and Alpitronic, ensuring consistent performance across these varied site sizes and geographic locations.
7Broader Industry Market Context
Mercedes-Benz is also a key participant in IONNA, a separate charging network that has already surpassed 180 sites. Despite these infrastructure gains, the broader U.S. market faces headwinds, with current EV sales remaining approximately 40% below the levels recorded last year. Total fast-charging ports across the United States now exceed 80,000 units.
8Future Network Outlook
The transition toward NACS connectors reflects a broader industry shift toward Tesla-style standards. By maintaining high-power capabilities and improving session success rates, Mercedes-Benz aims to solidify its position in the competitive American charging market. Future success will depend on balancing these infrastructure investments against fluctuating consumer demand and evolving industry charging standards.