China premiere for Mercedes-Benz EQB

Mercedes-Benz will unveil the all-electric EQB this week at Auto Shanghai as the vehicle will launch first in the Chinese market later this year.

It is the second fully electric compact car from Mercedes-EQ which shares efficient electric drive, recuperation and predictive Navigation technology with the recently launched EQA. 

After Europe, the international version of the EQB, produced in Kecskemét, Hungary, will be launched at the end of the year, followed by the US market launch in 2022.  New Zealand should also see the car launched in 2022.

The EQB specific to China is also produced there by the Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC), a joint venture between Daimler and its Chinese partner BAIC Group. 

“China is the world’s leading market for electric cars”, says Hubertus Troska, Daimler AG Board Member responsible for Greater China. “Our local production footprint is one of the decisive factors for sustainable growth in China. That’s why we are looking forward to produce the all-electric EQB in Beijing.”

In China, the new EQB is being launched as a top-of-the-range model with AMG Line and an output of 215 kW. In Europe, customers will have the choice between several models with front-wheel and all-wheel drive and various power levels, some rated at more than 200 kW.

The usable capacity of the batteries in Europe is 66.5 kWh. These batteries are manufactured at the Daimler plants in Kamenz (Germany) and Jawor (Poland). A particularly long-range version is also planned. 

The electrical consumption of the EQB 350 4MATIC in Europe, NEDC: combined electrical consumption: 16.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km, range 478 km; WLTP: combined electrical consumption: 19.2-18.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km, range up to 419 km.

The new EQB (length/width/height: 4684/1834/1667 millimetres) is closely related to two models in particular: to the EQA, whose advanced drive technology it shares, and to the GLB compact SUV. 

As an option (standard in China), the EQB has a third row of seats with two additional individual seats. The seats offer people up to a height of 1.65 metres a comfortable amount of space.

Extensive safety features include extractable head restraints, seat belts with belt tensioners and force limiters on all outer seats and a side windowbag that also covers passengers in the third row. A total of up to four child seats can be fitted in rows two and three, plus one more in the front passenger seat. To increase luggage space, the third row seats can be lowered flush into the load floor.

At home or at public charging stations, the EQB can be charged at up to 11 kW with alternating current (AC) using the onboard charger. The charging time required for a full charge depends on the available infrastructure and the country-specific vehicle equipment. Charging at a Mercedes-Benz Wallbox is considerably faster than at a household socket. 

It is even faster at direct current (DC) fast-charging stations. Depending on the SoC (State of Charge) and the temperature of the high-voltage battery, the EQB charges at a corresponding charging station with a maximum power of up to 100 kW. The charging time is then just over 30 minutes from 10-80 percent SoC.

For AC and DC charging, the EQB is equipped as standard in Europe and the USA with a CCS (Combined Charging Systems) connector in the right-hand side panel. In China, a country-specific charging solution with sockets on the right and left in the side wall is used, and charging times may also vary compared with the European version.

The battery systems for the compact Mercedes-EQ models produced in Europe are supplied by the Mercedes-Benz subsidiary Accumotive in Kamenz as well as by the battery factory in Jawor, Poland.