- Mercedes EQS has the longest range of any electric vehicle in the UK, now with 51 more
- Larger battery and improved energy efficiency features increase maximum range
- Upgrade includes vertical three-pointed star and rear passenger exterior packages
If you can afford the astronomical price, buyers of this electric car will never have to worry about range anxiety.
German giant Mercedes announced this week that it has increased the range of its flagship electric model, the EQS, which is already a market leader, so that it can go even further on a single charge.
Buyers of the updated EQS will get an extra 51 miles of range (now 511 miles total) thanks to a new, larger battery.
The Mercedes EQS has been updated and now the longer range version can travel a staggering 511 miles on a single charge, which is almost 100 miles more range than you would need to drive from London to Edinburgh.
To get the 511 miles, you’ll need to purchase the 450+ version. Pricing has yet to be confirmed for this luxury car, but the starting price will at least be what the EQS already starts from: £112,610.
There are a number of changes that improve range, including a new 118 kWh battery, improved regenerative braking, and front motor disconnect on all-wheel drive versions that helps conserve energy when the front motor is not needed.
This means you can drive from London to Dundee without having to stop to recharge.
Or, for those looking for a European alternative, travel from Mercedes’ home in Stuttgart, Germany, to Nice on the French Riviera.
Pricing has yet to be revealed, but the starting price will be at least what the current model costs, which is £112,000.
It’s the monumental range that makes this update a real star.
Thanks to a new 118 kWh battery (up from 108.4 kWh) and smart new efficiency technology, the Mercedes EQS 450+ will be the first electric vehicle sold in Britain that claims to be able to break the 500-mile barrier with a single charge.
Its 511 miles are around 70 miles more than the Fisker Ocean, which has the second longest range of any electric car you can get in the UK.
Other changes Mercedes has introduced to maximize range include better energy recovery from regenerative braking (up to 3 m/s from 1.5 m/s previously) and a heat pump as standard on all models.
The only exterior tweaks are a bolder black and chrome grille, a nod to the S-Class’s radiator, and an old vertical three-pointed Mercedes star.
All-wheel drive versions can also disengage the front motor when not needed to conserve energy.
Thanks to these features, autonomy has increased by more than 11 percent across the board.
The EQS 4Matic now offers 496 miles (up from 445), but it’s the single-engine 450+ you want to splurge on if you want the chart-topping 511 miles.
It looks smart, there are a couple of “status-conscious” additions (on some trim levels), including a new radiator trim with chrome applications (mimics the S-Class radiator) and Mercedes’ traditional three-pointed vertical star. Benz on the hood.
The MBUX Hyperscreen, a digital display that extends throughout the cabin, is now standard on the EQS.
It consists of three screens fused into a single piece of glass to create a strip of screen more than 141 centimeters wide.
The hyperscreen is now standard on the EQS range and the three screens combine almost seamlessly into one giant screen.
Rear passenger comfort has been enhanced with the option of Rear Comfort Plus and Extended Rear Luxury Lounge Pack.
Inside, there are subtle changes to rear comfort: the rear seats can recline (36 degrees as standard or an additional two degrees with the optional Rear Comfort Plus package, which also warms the neck and shoulders) and the Extended Rear Luxury Lounge Pack now comes with a special inclined footrest on the right side of the rear compartment.
For anyone who wants a very glamorous tow vehicle, the EQS will now be able to tow 1500kg (up from 750kg), the same as the EQ SUVs.
Prices are yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be far from cheap as there certainly won’t be any movement on the £112,610 asking price.