The Mercedes-Benz EQC brings innovation to the forefront

Carmakers are only all too aware of the perils of ignoring the electric car revolution. It is no longer just consumers, but entire governments which are now pushing forward an electric-first agenda within the auto sector.

In China, the government wants ‘new-energy vehicles’ to make up at least 15 per cent of the market within the next five years by 2025, and twice that figure a decade later.

By 2035, the UK will ban the sales of diesel- and gasoline-powered powered passenger cars. Noteworthily, even hybrids will be banned and only full-electric cars will be allowed to be sold within the UK.

Several other European countries have also announced similar steps, with Norway (a country where full EVs comprise around 60 per cent of sales each month) will permit the sale of only full-electric cars by 2025.

Fortunately, luxury carmakers like Mercedes-Benz are actively responding to these changing market dynamics. It introduced its first full-electric production car, the EQC, and will follow it up with a range of electric cars over the next 24 months, including the EQE, EQA, EQB and the much anticipated all-electric variant of the S-Class, the EQS.

While we wait for these models to make their way to market, here’s a quick look at some of the key innovation within the EQC which will help best gauge the technology and indicate the direction that Mercedes will adopt for its electric fleet.

Charging
The key for electric car manufacturers will be to replace consumer range anxiety with range confidence. The new EQC charges to 80 per cent in just 40 minutes and has a range of around 320km. Apart from being able to charge at home, it can also be charged at AC and DC charging points at public stations thereby increasing the ease with which the car is charged.

The car features an ECO Assist function which prompts drivers to lift their foot off the pedal to conserve energy, and the haptic accelerator prevents them from unduly revving or flooring it which will in turn gobble energy.

Engine
There are two electric motors connected to the lithium-ion battery which create 408hp of power and sends it all the four wheels. At full throttle, the SUV can leap from 0-60mph in around 4.8 seconds.

Interiors
A Burmester Sound System (optional with the EQC) will soundtrack your drive, while two 10.25-inch screens upfront serves as the instrument cluster the infotainment system along the dashboard. But ensuring an ultra-modern approach to its infotainment system, you can control the MBUX interface through gestures – and the system is additionally configured to determine the difference in hand gestures being made by the driver and the front passenger. For added functionality, Mercedes’ Linguatronic that is activated with a “Hey Mercedes” is a well-refined voice control system, that also is compatible with Arabic.

Safety
The EQC is a step forward in Mercedes’ march towards autonomous driving, where a number of driver assists come into play to protect the car’s occupants. It includes an active lane-keeping (which vibrates the steering wheel to warn drivers that they are veering off their lane) and blind spot assist, and even has cameras to scan for speed signs and adjust the speed of the car automatically.

Sustainability
Mercedes-Benz says that it has built 99 components within the car which are manufactured 100 per cent sustainably. Several components have been produced from renewable sources. The seat cover “Sunnyvale” developed for the new EQC is made of recycled plastic and renewable raw materials such as hemp, kenaf, wool, cotton, wood and natural rubber. And before you forget, this is a 100 per cent emission-free car.

The EQC is only the beginning of bigger ambitions that Mercedes-Benz has within the electric vehicle space. A study by Allied Market Research states that the electric segment will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.7 per cent from 2019 through to 2026, clearly demonstrating that the market is ripe for EVs.

By 2022, the entire Mercedes-Benz Cars product range is set to be electrified, with the EQ range bound to play a major role within the Mercedes-Benz portfolio of the future.

For more details of the Mercedes-Benz EQC, click here