The Mercedes-Benz EQC can now be charged in less time.
Mercedes-Benz has added an 11kW water-cooled on-board charger, reducing the amount of time needed for alternating current (AC) charging.
The updated model will arrive at the end of the first quarter of 2021.
The 80kWh battery now takes 7.5 hours to charge from 10 to 100 per cent using an AC charger like a home wall box, provided you have access to three-phase power.
Previously, the EQC’s 7.4kW charging capacity meant it took 11 hours to achieve the same charge.
The update only affects AC charging times, and not quicker direct current (DC) charging times.
The upgraded charging capabilities bring the EQC in line with the Audi E-Tron and BMW iX3, which can also be charged at 11kW using a wall box with three-phase power.
The BMW iX3 also takes 7.5 hours to charge to 100 per cent, while the Audi E-Tron takes seven hours in the base 50 variant and nine hours and 15 minutes in the E-Tron 55.
The Jaguar I-Pace received an upgrade earlier this year to support 11kW home charging, and a charge from empty to full now takes 8.6 hours.
Of the EQC’s rivals, only the Tesla Model X can be charged at home at a higher rate than 11kW, provided your home has the capability to support it. It can be charged at 16.5kW using three-phase 24A power.
After enjoying the electric SUV segment to themselves for a few years, the Model X and I-Pace are now facing an increasing number of competitors.
The EQC arrived locally late last year and the E-Tron followed it this year. Next year marks the arrival of the iX3.
Year-to-date, Mercedes-Benz has sold 119 EQCs. That’s more than the freshly introduced E-Tron (36) and the recently updated I-Pace (63), though Tesla doesn’t publish sales figures for its Model X.
