Mercedes-EQ: Making Sustainable Mobility A Reality

Mobility is an integral part of human society and we cannot deny that. But with the constant threat of climate change and global warming, sustainability has become the need of the hour, and one way to achieve that is with electric mobility. Mercedes-Benz, one of the oldest carmakers in the world, figured this out quite early on and saw that more than just launching an electric car, it needed to create an electric vehicle or EV ecosystem. Thus, the carmaker introduced Mercedes-EQ brand in 2016 with an aim to create a sustainable mobility ecosystem. The same year, the company also previewed its first electric vehicle with the EQC concept car.

The carmaker introduced Mercedes-EQ brand in 2016 and previewed its first electric vehicle with the EQC concept car the same year

Sustainability in Mobility

Globally, the Mercedes-EQ brand has already introduced a range of fully electric vehicles like - the EQC, EQA, EQB and EQS, and the line-up is just going to expand with newer models like the EQE and EQS SUV. The shift to electric mobility also helps overcome one of the biggest challenges we face towards achieving sustainability, which is over-reliance on fossil fuel. And the fact that there is zero tailpipe emission just helps that much more in creating a sustainable environment. Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow. Shifting from electric-first to electric-only, the world's pre-eminent luxury car company is accelerating toward an emissions-free and software-driven future. The larger goal for the company is to make all its passenger cars 'carbon-neutral' by 2039.

Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow

Sustainability in Experience

When it comes to Mercedes-Benz cars, customers have high expectations regarding the overall ownership experience. Be it the design, creature comforts or the technology that's on offer. The same philosophy applies to cars from Mercedes-EQ, however, here, the company is trying to offer luxury that doesn't come at a cost of the environment. In line with the environmentally friendly drive concept, the company has made use of a lot of sustainable materials inside its EV products. The EQC, for example, comes with finely woven "Sunnyvale" upholstery in indigo blue or beige, which is made of high-quality recycled material, while the side bolsters are of man-made leather.

Mercedes-EQ is not just focusing on launching zero-emission products but also achieving sustainability in every aspect, even battery technology

Sustainability in Technology

When it comes to creating a sustainable environment, Mercedes-EQ is taking a holistic approach. This means the company is not just focusing on launching zero-emission products but also achieving sustainability in every aspect, even battery technology. In fact, in the newer EQ models like EQE and EQS, the company has achieved sustainability of the cell chemistry as well. The optimised active material consists of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1, which has effectively reduced the cobalt content, to less than ten per cent. In fact, the company aims to be able to dispense entirely with materials such as cobalt using innovative post-lithium-ion technologies. This will allow to company to optimise the recyclability of the battery pack.