- Mercedes-Benz has partnered up with Japanese sustainable energy specialists, PowerX, to create a new high-power EV charging network in the country.
- PowerX will exist as a strategic partner for a new Mercedes-Benz subsidiary, which will be called ‘Mercedes-Benz High Power Charging Japan’.
- This network will rollout over 100 high-power charge points in Japan, spread across 25 specific new charging sites.
New Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network for Japan
Charging points under the network will begin opening in the first quarter of 2025, with the entire planned network going online within the next two years following. These charging stations will primarily be located in heavily metropolitan areas, and typically consist of four individual ultra-rapid charge points – able to take full advantage of fast charging Mercedes EVs such as the EQS. These chargers will be accessible directly through the Mercedes me Charge app, but also for owners of other EVs through the PowerX charging app. Worldwide, Mercedes-Benz only launched its first branded high-power charging station last year.
PowerX has already partnered with other OEMs for charging stations in the country, with Audi and BMW-branded stations already opened alongside PowerX’s expertise. It also operates its own charging stations, with over 20 specific locations in Japan so far.
The growth of all public charging networks will be crucial to drive EV adoption in Japan, where the market share of electric cars lags behind regions such as Europe, the United States, and China. According to research from Japanese CPO, PLUGO, over 40% of EV owners in the country’s capital, Tokyo, are unable to charge their vehicles at home owing to a lack of space. This is a similar pattern across other major metropolitan areas of Japan, where public charger installations, such as this significant Mercedes-Benz expansion, will help to fill a significant gap, and hopefully drive electric vehicle adoption to higher levels in the country.