Mercedes EQS: Model update with 800-volt technology

Contents

No matter how you look at it: The Mercedes EQS was launched with great expectations, but has not been a success so far. The S-Class with combustion engine dominates sales figures in comparison in all major markets. The reasons for this have been widely speculated. On the road, the huge electric car made an excellent impression, yet the breakthrough did not happen. With a comprehensive model update, Mercedes is now attempting a breakthrough. The most important change is the switch to 800-volt charging, but a lot is also happening elsewhere.

600 meters of range

The innovative character of the vehicle is expressed even more strongly than before, Mercedes writes in the accompanying notes for the revised EQS. Viewed more soberly, however, Mercedes has not changed much. The illuminated strip between the headlights is now located outside the simulated radiator grille. In the best case, the c_W value drops to 0.2, which is particularly important for consumption on the motorway. Changed headlights are lighter than before, consume less electricity, and yet illuminate further, Mercedes promises. The high beam is said to have a range of up to 600 m.

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Mercedes EQS 2026 (3 Bilder)

Even before, the seats, steering wheel, and armrests in the center console and door panels could be heated, and now the seatbelts are also included. They reach up to 44 degrees, the manufacturer announces, which only leaves the question open whether the successor will finally have heated pedals to truly use all contact surfaces without the risk of frost. With a HEPA interior filter, up to 99.65 percent of all particles can be filtered, it continues. Apart from such details: Unchanged, the EQS is likely to remain one of the most comfortable and quiet travel sedans in the world.

Operating system MB.OS

Of course, the infotainment area also takes some steps forward. MB.OS now serves as the operating system, which means a constantly growing scope in the app store, among other things. Smartphones can be used as car keys, digital extras can be booked and paid for directly in the car. For traffic data, Mercedes uses information from Google Maps. For range prediction, wind conditions along the route are also taken into account, among other things. As in the CLA (test), the battery is only tempered here as far as necessary for the charging point during preconditioning. In some cases, a lower temperature is sufficient for charging at 150 kW than for a charging point at 400 kW.

Steer-by-Wire

Only a few months after market launch, Mercedes is introducing Steer-by-Wire as an option. The steering is said to offer a "completely new steering feel" (Mercedes' own words). This is visually evident with a square steering wheel, the shape of which in this context perhaps not only makes me doubt whether a relevant part of the target group was precisely waiting for this. After all, this remains an extra, and more importantly for many, Mercedes is at least partially bidding farewell to the tiny touch surfaces on the steering wheel. There are now rollers on the right and left again. A small cross for swiping remains on the right.

Charging power and battery technology

Previously, the peak charging power was 200 kW. Charging between 10 and 80 percent took 31 minutes. With a usable 118 kWh, this means an average charging power of just under 160 kW. Mercedes has been heavily criticized for its decision to use a 400-volt system. However, one must give the responsible parties credit that 160 kW on average is not too bad. The switch to 800 volts brings significantly higher peak charging powers, but not necessarily higher average powers.

Charging time reduced by up to 6 minutes

The EQS will be offered with two batteries in the future. Their usable energy content is 112 or 122 kWh, respectively. The less massive battery can be charged at up to 330 kW, the larger one at 350 kW. So, if you charge from a low state of charge up to an estimated 50 percent, you can expect a significantly shorter charging break. However, the information for the charging time between 10 and 80 percent of 25 (112-kWh battery) or 27 minutes for the large battery clearly shows that the switch to 800 volts alone is not an indicator of brutal charging acceleration. The average charging power increases to 188 kW with the 112-kWh battery and to 190 kW with the 122-kWh battery. Enormous amounts of energy, specifically 78.4 and 85.4 kWh, are still shoveled into the battery during this time. Nevertheless, the average charging power is not a top value.

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Mercedes EQS 2026: Technik (3 Bilder)

Enormous ranges

However, it must also be said that enormous ranges are promised. Between 817 and 926 km according to WLTP. Even if you calculate with 22 kWh/100 km, leave a 10 percent charge reserve, and start with a full battery, you can drive a little over 800 km with one intermediate charging stop in the base model, and over 1100 with two. The model with the large battery shifts these limits a bit further, but one should not expect miracles from 10 kWh more in this area. Mercedes promises advances in volumetric and gravimetric energy density, i.e., less volume and weight per kilowatt-hour of energy content. The cobalt content has decreased, and silicon oxide has been added to the graphite in the anode.

The EQS is offered with four powertrains. Even the entry-level model is well-equipped with 270 kW and 505 Nm; in the top model with all-wheel drive, the driver can access 430 kW.

Prices and conclusion

The real surprise, however, is the price list. An EQS 400 is available from 94,403 euros, which is less than before, and a first discount on this price is already available in the configurator. Traditionally, Mercedes' surcharges for higher powertrain configurations are extremely confident. The EQS 450+ has only 30 kW and 10 kWh more, which Mercedes charges around 14,000 euros extra for. For the all-wheel-drive model EQS 500, it's another 15,000 euros more. Of course, this is only the respective starting point, as Mercedes can hope that only a minority in this class will sit on seats upholstered in artificial leather.

Despite very extensive standard equipment, hardly any customer will end up with a list price of less than 100,000 euros. Such prices do not necessarily have to be an obstacle to sales success, as the S-Class has proven for decades. However, a recent comment noted that the current S-Class W223 struggles with usability problems despite its price. With the model update, Mercedes has improved the content and further enhanced an excellent electric car. Whether this will be enough to convince more interested parties in the future remains to be seen.

(mfz)