When you travel in a Mercedes-Benz, you can expect a truly remarkable experience. Whether you’re the owner of a gas-powered sedan or SUV or one of our cutting-edge electric vehicles, your journey will be comfortable and thoroughly luxurious. Planning to travel with a Mercedes-Benz electric SUV? Good choice: These innovative models have impressive range and features that will make your trip a pleasure. Before you set off, read through our guide below to learn how to prepare for an electric vehicle road trip.
When traveling in an EV, you won’t be able to count on finding a charging station around every corner (like you would with gas stations). That’s why it is crucial to understand your vehicle’s range and map out your route in advance. You can use a third-party app, like those from PlugShare and EVgo, to do this; however, when you use your Mercedes me connect app to find chargers, you can easily send directions straight to your model’s MBUX Navigation system (if equipped). Mercedes me Charge is easy to use, and if you have any questions, our team will be happy to help. You’re most likely to find DC fast chargers in larger cities along your route. Small towns may only have Level 2 chargers (which only add 10 to 20 miles of range per hour of charging) or they may have no chargers at all. Make sure to plan your stops carefully to ensure you’ll be near a charger that is compatible with your vehicle when you need it. Booking a hotel in your destination? Consumer Reports recommends finding one with EV chargers onsite so your car can charge while you sleep.
In this same vein, it’s important to ensure that your pad your itinerary with extra time to account for charging. Charging isn’t as fast as getting gas, so include charging time when determining your ETA. Wondering how long does it take to charge an electric vehicle? DC fast chargers can typically charge an EV in less than an hour. In fact, Consumer Reports writes that DC fast chargers charge about ten times faster than their Level 2 counterparts. However, since it’s harder to find fast chargers, you may need to wait for a while as your Mercedes-Benz charges at a Level 2 charger. Roadtrippers recommends coordinating charging with meal breaks or visits to attractions along your route. It’s widely recommended to charge an EV before the battery dips below 20 percent charged. Keep in mind that many electric vehicles charge fastest between 20 and 80 percent, so you might not want to spend extra time waiting for your model to reach 100 percent. Rather, stop more often to keep your battery in the 20-80 percent range (a move which can actually elongate your battery’s lifespan, according to Flo).
While there are many, many EV chargers nationwide (over 130,000!), the infrastructure is still in its early stages. Having a plan A and a plan B is a wise decision when it comes to traveling with an EV. By this, we mean that you shouldn’t plan to stop in a town with a single EV charging station when your model has a low battery, as the charger could be out of service, you could have a long wait to use it, or your model could be incompatible with the charger. If you plan to stop in an area with multiple charging stations before your battery is at a critical level, you’ll have a backup place to charge in the event of unanticipated issues. Feeling charging anxiety? Don’t worry: Your Mercedes-Benz EV will warn you far in advance regarding its charge level. You’ll have more than enough time to safely pull off the highway and navigate to the next station on your route.
Driving an EV can be truly freeing — imagine having no need to touch a dirty gas pump ever again! Whether you’re charging up here in Cincinnati or out of town, the process is simple and straighforward. With a little preparation, you can hit the road in your EV and focus on making memories. If you have any questions, the team here at Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati is always here to help.
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