The whole auto industry is moving towards an electric future and Mercedes is one of the major players of this drive. After the launch of its EQS Sedan, the German Carmaker has now revealed its first electric SUV EQB on the eve of the first press day at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Expo on April 18. Some may say they are trying to steal VW’s thunder by launching a rival to VW’s ID.6.
The seven-seater SUV is the electric version of the Mercedes GLB. This new offering in the EQ family comes with the standard GLB’s more robust and less aerodynamic body design. Although it has the usual details of Mercedes electric cars, such as a closed and fused grille with its new optics and a futuristic kind of look on the front and rear. On the front, it features the typical Mercedes-EQ black panel grille with the central star, while on the back of the EQB, the LED tail lamps merge seamlessly into the tapered LED light strip.
The EQB range will include several models with front-wheel and all-wheel drive, various power ratings – some of which will exceed 200 kW – plus batteries with usable capacities starting from 66.5 kWh. A particularly long-range version is also planned.
The EQB can be charged at up to 11 kW with alternating current (AC) using the onboard charger at home or at public 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% SoC.
In China, the new EQB is being launched as a fully equipped top-of-the-range model with AMG Line and an output of 215 kW.
In Europe, right from the start customers will have the choice between several models with front-wheel and all-wheel drive and various power levels, some rated at over 200 kW.
The EQB 350 4MATIC has a claimed range up to 478 km on a single full charge. 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). As per reports it will also get a particularly long-range version in the future.
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.
“China is not only the most important passenger car sales region for us, it is also the world’s leading market for electric cars”, says Hubertus Troska, Daimler AG Board Member responsible for Greater China.
“We are extremely delighted to world-premiere the all-electric EQB here in China. With its seven seats, the new EQB meets the needs of very family-oriented customers. In addition to the right products, 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.”
The dimensions and proportions of EQB are quite similar to that of its fuel variant, giving this EV the same versatility and interior space. Even on the inside, the interiors have been carried over from the GLB sharing the same dashboard layout except for some changes in finish and color. The China version of the EQB showcased at the Shanghai Auto Expo and the only one that is seen at the moment will be available even in rose gold color for metallic elements.
The interior technology is based on the Mercedes’ famous MBUX adapted to the EQ models that can even analyze the best route to have the necessary charging points at hand to continue our journey. Mercedes-EQ has expanded its electric models line-up to 5 now with the introduction of EQB. The other models are the EQC, EQA, EQV and the newly launched EQS.
