First Charge! Mercedes Public Charging Network Opens w/ Incredible Site - Full Tour, Specs, + Lounge

[@ksmithashima]

I appreciate Kyle calling out the "100% powered by renewable energy from day 1" statement by clarifying it's currently through purchasing Green Credits. Strong follow up comment to keep companies accountable on their green initiatives.

[@yonallb]

So greenwashing. Got it.

[@FalconFour]

@@yonallb Not greenwashing. Credits are a way to actually build clean energy without actually building it - to pay other people to build it for them. They're paid to companies that put truly renewable energy into the grid, which in turn, offsets exactly the same energy that's consumed & buying the credits. So, at the output side (the stations), they buy credits... and at the supply side (the renewable generation), they sell their generation for credits. The credits pay for the systems to be built and run, and the energy generation is real. It's a fair system, IMO, and it drives some of the biggest renewable projects that exist. The only thing it's not, of course, is a real-time system. You're charging off whatever is available at the time, and the credits buy an equivalent amount of renewable energy later.

[@curtisalex456]

@@yonallb 💯💯👍👍 it reminds me of the heydays of carbon credits.

[@ultrastoat3298]

Yah, those credit programs have been a scam.... from day 1

[@yonallb]

If Green credits are different from Carbon credits, I stand corrected. If they are claiming they are "powered by renewable energy" for not cutting down a forest in Brazil, it is total bs. @@FalconFour

[@berthogendoorn2133]

Thanks Kyle, cannot get enough of these in-depth charge station reviews, great on Mercedes, I believe they are really pushing EV's and this top tier charge station just proves that point. Love the nerdy stuff!

[@robh5409]

I love how Mercedes and ChargePoint did this whole station from the layout to the proper configuration of the chargers and dispensers. EA could learn a few things here.

[@bmw803]

They just had to put those dispensers as drive thru. Not sure why they didn't.

[@KayvonJavid]

42:40 Kyle you really got them there. Love to see it.

[@fatmanchew909]

Honestly the only thing I ask of all charging stations is to mark where you want people to line up to wait their turn. I've seen people get into arguements because they waited on the wrong side of the 8 chargers because at the Ontario Mills there's no markings and plenty of traffic to confuse people because there's 3-4 lanes where you can go up and down to park while trying to figure out who's trying to charge.

[@sebastiangeorge7714]

I still see people go to the gas station opposing the way of traffic

[@dariomuller5611]

People shouldn't have to line up and wait in the first place.

[@killabyt3]

People shouldn’t have to wait in general and I think it’s because so many people r buying EVs and don’t have a place to charge at home / work

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Pull a number at the entrance - vs. a reservation via an app - but yes that´s still an etiquette question, with good education and respect it is not a problem though until now.

[@rcmadiax]

@@killabyt3I mean I have a Tesla but I certainly wouldn’t have purchased it if I didn’t have a way to charge at home. I don’t see any advantage vs an ICE vehicle if you have to rely on public charging.

[@michelfortier9563]

It's pretty apparent on the how's and why's Andrew with Mercedez is where he's at. He appears passionate about what he's doing. Notice how every question, there's no hesitation. He's quick, well-spoken and has the looks as well. And, he's polished. Great representation of Mercedez. And no, I don't have any affiliation with him. Having been in the corporate world for 35 years, stand-outs standout.

[@babyrok86]

Can't wait to pull in with my Chevy Bolt EUV :)

[@ChargePointnet]

Exciting to see this come to life, thanks for the inside look Kyle! ⚡⚡⚡

[@ResizeFilms]

Great job Mercedes! Can’t wait to use these premium charging hubs in Portugal soon!👏🏽

[@ericwadebrown]

Looks perfect. Exactly how charging should be.

[@saibopengke77]

Would be really cool if Chagepoint let them skin the UI on the screen of the chargers so it looked like an extension of MBUX, so it feels more like a Mercedes-Benz charging network to drivers.

[@MaticTheProto]

agreed

[@jeffs6090]

I love that you played around with different possible scenarios that people will definitely run into while charging. Hopefully the Mercedes guys are fully open to your critiques. I'm sure they will be. I like the idea of there being a way for the whole system to know that there's a car in the stall but not plugged in. I would say they they should have installed weight sensors in the concrete. I love that they are building these at Buc-ees!! Those are always a destination type of place for refueling, and I was hoping someone soon would add charging stations at them soon. I hope they have at least 20 stalls along with at least 4 pull throughs.

[@Model3P]

There's only like 3 youtube channels I'm willing to watch a 1 hour long video from... this is one

[@NoHarmDunn]

On a side note love to see this channel growing.

[@nishantbhushan]

Good to see you in Georgia !! Would love to meet and greet next time when you come back to Atlanta !!

[@nssomething8370]

You REALLY REALLY REALLY need to do a video on the Electric Circuit charging network in the province of Quebec and see a public charging network done right in North America. You'd even get to show some FULLY powered Kempower units long the way.

[@fleecystheking]

Very true. Showcasing a charging network (Electric Circuit) that works, that's well maintained, with an app that not only works basically 100% of the time but that also interoperates with Chargepoint app users seems like a no-brainer to me. Of course we could complain that Electric Circuit has waited to implement 350 kW charging, or that they require an app (or their RFID card) to charge. But they also skipped over all of the low quality equipment we've seen installed by Electrify America/Canada, EVGo and friends to install proven stuff that works (Kempower comes to mind). I'm sure credit card readers will be added when robust solutions become available for those as well. Mercedes-Benz has a nice location there. But it's just ONE location. 8 chargers. Let's talk when this has actually turned into a network people can rely on.

[@BrandiAngelaSaulter]

Thanks!! This is by far the most comfortable charging hub I’ve ever used.

[@johnpoldo8817]

Kyle, thanks for another outstanding EV episode.

[@scotduckrow8524]

Super well thought out design and implementation. Mercedes should be proud of their staff.

[@robert5008]

Mercedes that canopy is like your new brand signature. Build less stations and spend the money on the canopy for the stations you can afford.

[@0-Will-0]

This puts Mercedes up quite a lot higher in my estimation. As long as they get enough out there of course!

[@marioseoul]

Cheers to Mercedes for making it accessible to all! As a former owner of a '68 220Diesel I'm still fond of the brand. But I was a little disappointed when they opened a Mercedes-EQ charging station in January 2022 beside a new luxury Starbucks Reserve store along the North Han River way outside Seoul. I pulled up in my Hyundai Ioniq Electric the day it opened, as I happened to live close by, but their chargers were limited to Mercedes-Benz customers only. Which was strange because there were very few Mercedes EVs around at the time. (Now in November 2023 there are certainly many more). I have a picture of the screen that seems to have reservations, and the station itself was by ChargEV (차지비). I have no idea if Mercedes opened up more stations in Korea though.

[@vpr5555]

Nice looking site, I think every site should have a canopy. Would be nice if they had an air station for filling tires as well as windshield cleaning stations as well. I noticed the trash cans already, so that was already done. I'd also like to see some form of bench seating for those that would like to sit outdoors instead of inside their vehicle.

[@oldgandy5355]

Just fueled my ICE at Buc-ees in Temple, TX. Not an earth shattering incident. However, across the parking lot from the 50 Tesla Superchargers is a NEW installation project of at least five Mercedes chargers. That IS exciting!

[@RooKooRarr]

It's cool to see that the post next to the car is showing that it's charging (blue LED strip) as opposed to those who were idle/available showing green 👍

[@scottjacobs8245]

Sorry didn’t know you were here so near by where I live - would have come out and said hello - thanks for all you do to keep us informed!

[@fergman300]

So freakin cool, first off Mercedes knocked it out or the park with these charging stations. Those ChargePoint power blocks are freakin cool. And the Mercedes branded ChargePoint chargers look nice. The whole charging experience there looks awesome...and the reservations system is next level....wow. Love the Vending machines, Bathrooms and the drive thru lane is cool... maybe the drive thru charger could be limited to 10 min use as an express lane charger. A uniformed attendant on each site to clean windows and the bathrooms and vending lounge as well as security, and to assist customers would be cool. Which would be a great little job for able bodied retirees. And props to the employees answering all the questions...both were great.

[@JakeRichardsong]

Great charging speeds. Looks clean and bright.

[@dandaigle4546]

what a classy company and experience, just wish i had a truckload of money :) thank you Kyle

[@rowcamp]

I have been to Europe twice in the last two months and while not renting ev's there, the infrastructure there is so far ahead of the US, it is great to see these fancy charging points but what we really need is the Euro model with 6-12 high speed chargers at interstate rest areas and gas stations that are litteraly meters away from the interstate. So easy there to charge. I know the USA will get there but I hope the masses get to see more simple places (not hidden in a Walmart lot) but visible along the highways and byways of the good ol'USA.

[@ronb4633]

Note that Porsche has a nice charging hub at their experience center in Atlanta, you just need to make reservations at Restaurant 356 or booked track time to use it. No canopy though. But the museum and restaurant are spectacular. But Porsche seems to only be doing this at some of their facilities and dealerships. Not as grand as Mercedes has planned, great job MB!

[@mickyd3]

I would suggest Mercedes creating a dry pathway to the amenity or relaxing lounge. If they are offering a premium service, then they should also consider that folks want to stay dry from the charger to the lounge. Looks like a short gap between the two places but just offering an ideal situation. Buc-ee's could also take note... Just one last comment: I thought these charging videos would be nerdy or boring but I really enjoyed this video.

[@andyzegerman]

You deserve to be the first to plug in. Thanks for your in depths videos.

[@simonhunter8338]

And the last to unplug

[@JDDevice]

Every manufacturer selling EVs should have one of these level 3 charging hub outside their corporate office. Hyundai Canada committed to level 3 charging outside their corporate office 3 years ago, however, customers are left exposed to the elements with no canopy or amenities close by, which was a miss. Love that Mercedes is 10 toes down on this, and can't wait to see others make the same commitment.

[@KevinThomas-dj5ip]

Do you know the total cost to build all that and do you know if any charging stations are making money?

[@raemill4089]

Looks awesome. Might roll thru here Friday on my way thru Atlanta. I'd have to pay vs the free EA, but this looks nicer and assuredly more reliable than EA. Worth the slight detour I think.

[@yolanda4731]

OMG. I love that you kept the part with you pushing the Rivian to the charger 😂

[@rzjk301]

I can't wait for Buc-ee's to get these chargers. This will get rid of my range anxiety traveling from central Texas to Galveston Texas.

[@PeaceChanel]

Thank You for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤

[@johnsmithuti]

Imagine being the guy who's just about to plug in his car and the light turns orange 😅

[@tboneforreal]

LOL, yeah there needs to be a presence sensor so as soon as you pull into the space it gets marked as occupied to prevent that situation. Kyle kind of said something similar with his idea of a blocked stall indicator.

[@TechnicalLee]

@@tboneforreal Well they have the magnetic sensors for the lights already, so they just need to integrate those into the charging site software to do that.

[@johnpoldo8817]

I suspect German engineers have already thought of that scenario. Are you baiting Kyle to find out what happens?

[@simonhunter8338]

Imagine the guy whos about to plug in his car and the lights go out.

[@adairmartin]

I hope Mercedes builds tons of these! That way, they will entice other EV drivers to go to them which will free up the demand on our Tesla SuperChargers!

[@WilliamWarren29485]

Have a hunch your new ride is a B-class Electricdrive based on your current quirky fleet… 🧐

[@Vxvx22]

The layout of the site should be "pull through" stall for ALL the stalls. Just like a gas station layout. It would have been much easier for everyone. It is a disappointment that they chose the "backing in" layout (except just one pull through stall)

[@ContraVsGigi]

I think thay makes sense for gas stations as filling takes 3 minutes. Charging is maybe 30 minutes, so making a line does not make much sense, as you'd have to wait 1 hour if you are the third in line and could not move your car meanwhile. Having a separate parking for waiting makes sense. Plus, if you have some trouble charging, you block the ones behind, too.

[@ItsSeb87]

Pull through layouts are great and we are excited to build many of them in the future. Unfortunately there was not enough space on the property.

[@buddy1155]

Probably European design, Europeans have no problem with parking, that is more something Americans have issues with.

[@OutofSpecStudios]

It’s all about space availability . Particularly when you have an area that needs protected electronics and chargers, much like gas pumps. Big difference is the gas tanks are in ground. The cases and transformers are all above ground. I agree with others that charge time is a factor in space availability.

[@ClebyHerris]

I agree with this. I hate backing into anything. I’d much rather drive into a site because I can see much better forward

[@COSolar6419]

Universal access at DC fast chargers is fundamental to EV adoption. I just tried to explain current EV fast changing in the USA and the eye rolls were understandable.

[@simonhunter8338]

Try plugging in 200 toasters at once....

[@sealevel274]

2 free years of charging for a new 2024 MB EV purchase is fine, except there probably won't be many of their hubs available in that timeframe.

[@JadSinno]

I'm not too impressed with this reservation strategy. Up to 25 minutes where nobody can charge when no other charger is available makes no sense, especially when you have someone on the 800v architecture who could have fully charged in about 20 minutes and left before the person with the reservation car even showed up. You could set it up so that someone can charge up until the reserved car shows up at the station. Everyone wins. @Kyle unless I'm missing something, can you please suggest this to Mercedes-Benz?

[@dennislyon5412]

First attempt at reservation cue. I’m sure it will be refined once they get some user experiences, and possibly work out how to include a cue line. A great first attempt, though?

[@johnpoldo8817]

I believe MB will refine the reservation system to maximize utilization. With only 8 stalls, it’s easy to reach full occupancy. Once a stall reaches 80% SoC, it should be enabled for a reservation holder 10 minutes away? A major back-up occurs when several drivers “hog” stalls for 100%.

[@dennislyon5412]

@@johnpoldo8817 - remember, some of the drivers will be MB owners who can charge for free, so might go to 100% unless restricted to 80%?

[@johnpoldo8817]

@@dennislyon5412 I’m hoping free charging is limited to 30 minutes.

[@dennislyon5412]

@@johnpoldo8817 - yes, lets hope they restrict charge times or max percentage level.

[@evkx]

Happy Birthday Kyle!

[@gotamd]

Simon is the largest (or maybe second largest) owner of malls across the US, so that’s a huge deal.

[@coreyschmidt734]

What an impressive installation. They really made some great decisions here. I agree it’s well worth paying a slight premium to charge at a Mercedes hub. As an EV enthusiast and coffee roaster I would love to partner with someone to install legit super automatic espresso machines with card readers instead of the vending machines. Congratulations on being the first to experience this installation Kyle.

[@ps7549]

Cool! Only problem with unmanned facilities is cleanliness & security (how to keep it feeling “high class”?)

[@simonhunter8338]

Yep, definitely need to keep out the working man...

[@Krunch2020]

If my wife kicks me out am definitely gonna live there!

[@kurtmaute2668]

Hi Kyle - believe you are on to a trend regarding an improved user experience for charging away from home. Thus-far it has not matched the ownership experience but is key to continuing a positive user experience that will improve investment into the next generation of mobility.

[@kurtmaute2668]

A faithful e-tron prestige owner highly influenced by your podcasts.

[@Astrand1]

Kyle cracks me up. Should play a drinking game. How many times will Kyle tell us that “he’s the first to charge at this station” 🤣🤣🤣

[@jimmyjohn38]

haha love the corporate answer to the open access charging question. When in reality - $$$$.

[@Kee_Diddy]

It's so good to see this kind of major buy-in from big manufacturers. I think a lot of the world has been apprehensively waiting to see if this idea of an electric future has just been a fad, and the crappy national charging infrastructure has been a lingering example of that potential reality. The faster we fix that problem and legitimize the idea of an all-electric roadtrip, the faster and more successful the transition away from oil will be. It really is the most important issue in the industry right now.

[@eDENTECHNOCYBERHUB]

YOUR BIGGEST KENYAN FAN, SUBSCRIBER, LIKER, COMMENTER RIGHT HERE, AS USUAL, 16/11/2023

[@ianmutch1370]

Thanks Kyle & Franky,for a pek into the future, only if all of the car manufacturers do as well A😮

[@darrinv6798]

What’s that big white thing above the cars providing protection from the elements? I’ve never seen one near a Public L3. 😂

[@Eqs450SUV]

Our family so happy to see the first MB Charging Hub. Hope to see one built in the future here in Silicon Valley. Too bad the bathroom didn’t have a changing table for the babies. Always wondered how the reservation would work it and it was clearly explained. Thanks for another great video!

[@KyleHubb]

Ahhhh! Why, Mercedes? Why not have a sauna and swimming pool?

[@simonhunter8338]

Yep, a changing table should just about do it.....and a robot maid to use it.

[@Lore.Amaranth]

I had the same thought. That’s all that’s missing.

[@gridjac]

Love it! The more, the merrier!

[@matthewrayermann9265]

Would've loved some tougher questions regarding the reservation system, specifically questions like "what if someone refuses to move from a reserved spot and simply waits out the 25 min window?" I've dealt with reservation systems where there's no consequences to ignoring it, which ultimately just results in frustration for those that try to play by the rules, and I am expecting to see that happen with this system.

[@brp154]

As the charging experience becomes more of a priority, rather than an afterthought behind the building, there will be a consequence....you'll get towed. I also think that won't happen as much, and it won't matter as much as there will be more chargers, more reliable chargers, faster chargers, and cars with more range. This video makes you realize how the charing experience is going to be in the future. Another consequence could be that car is kicked off the network for 60 days, for example.

[@vonesuatra438]

This will definitely happen frequently (at least daily) in my area NJ/NY. There are already a lot of physical fights at charging stations that police have to get involved

[@erichgerber251]

Another great video. QQ: do you think Mercedes has done enought in terms of providing add-on services to the drivers while they charge their EVs? IMHO this is the key to a successful GTM model for provider of EV charging experience.

[@stephanelachapelle4350]

Hi Kyle, FYI, if you are talking about Simons (the store I know in Quebec), it’s something similar to Eaton or Simpson, if you do have those in the states… 😅

[@deveshkumarsaini2005]

might be first to download

[@MrFester]

Thiis is omly a few miles from the house, need to go check it out. Surprised they didnt go to the new Rivian plant location also this week.

[@anhta31]

Super nice, looks like a huge overhead

[@MYJ61]

Simon is a developer of shopping centers. Similar to Galleria, and Mills.

[@bbgator1]

Only the largest mall chain in the US. I’m sure he has been in dozens of Simon malls but didn’t realize it

[@vlad2838]

@@bbgator1I’ll bet he bought one of his hoodies at a Simon mall and didn’t even know it!

[@raytaddeo8503]

Good video Kyle. I look forward to more sites like this

[@777Outrigger]

Chips and coffee from a vending machine. How luxurious! 😃But yeah, we need covers for fast chargers.

[@DblOSmith]

I was thinking having to go outside in the rain/snow to go to the bathroom outhouse wasnt too classy either.

[@777Outrigger]

@@DblOSmith 😃

[@motorozer]

This is fantastic! We need this in Australia urgently, however the reality is that we will likely be the last to see such astonishing well thought EV charging infrastructure. Australia, is unfortunately not very smart and forward thinking right now. We lack and lost the 'can do' attitude we used to have :(

[@sahar_services]

Can you confirm if ID7 will be made in US at the Chattanooga Plant? Thanks!

[@omarastacio3939]

Simon is not a mall, they own properties including malls such as Woodbury Commons Outlet Center in the New York area and many more throughout the country.

[@jon1913]

They also suck. They buy malls and jack up the prices until the mall dies. I've seen it happen to 6 malls they own, and several friends had to shut down their businesses because the rent became too great (4x their original contract within 2 years of the simon buyout).

[@keijuhl]

Is Bucees going to have both Tesla and Mercedes chargers now?

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

Yes

[@Superfastjellyfish669]

Mercedes is doing a great job. Hopefully the homeless don’t become an issue at these stations

[@Krunch2020]

You could hire people to wash windows and check tires in Mercedes jumpsuits. Then they could afford to pay rent.

[@benbohannon]

Nice. So, they added a canopy to make it similar to every gas station.

[@murphychris314]

These videos are absolutely long, even getting a tour of the bathroom. But I like it.

[@ultrastoat3298]

There will always be more NACS equipped cars in North America than CCS by a large margin. They will have to comeback and retrofit all these.

[@Sushi_219]

I swear I need a OOS, app to keep up with the content, the premium and information providing content is worth watching, but reading a short article on the move would be amazing. Just a random idea.

[@simonhunter8338]

Yep more apps, that'l do it!

[@techtim123]

I like this Andrew guy a lot!!! Awesome job on the video!

[@JasonTaylor-po5xc]

A restroom being accessible from inside the lounge would be nice, especially during bad weather - or perhaps under the canopy.

[@simonhunter8338]

Once everone drives EV's, the weather will allways be nice.....

[@ndear2955]

Way to go Mercedes -- I'm glad to see this vision is starting to roll out in reality!

[@backdoormanintheend]

Thanks.

[@sirgardensalot]

This is absolutely amazing could we get something on the West Coast please electrical America isn't bad but it's not this Love the videos keep them coming 👍👍👍

[@subbiahpalani]

@kyleconner do ask about ‘how to’ submit feedback to Mercedes?

[@johnbev2336]

A canopy is a must like ice cars have. Is this canopy having solar panels to be even greener. Mercedes is premium brand, it’s amazing they are building hubs.

[@max-timothy-lev9834]

Awesome! Thank you

[@robertoAndrs]

Great Video Kyle.

[@chassdesk]

Your Rivian is looking on point with that wheel and tire combo

[@Heartless_13224]

Why were you not able to charge both cars from the same post? It seems the comparison would be easier to do that way.

[@irfanhusein1445]

Glad to see it’s a drive through like a typical gas station. No need to unhook a trailer

[@adamdeluca1974]

The 25 min reservation system is really dumb. In an Ioniq 5 you would have been charged and gone before the mercedes got there.

[@ronb4633]

I guess that can be suggested at the Hyundai charging hub. 😂

[@ericjorgensen4826]

This is a beautiful charging facility, and it is great that Mercedes is doing this. But at 54:28 the Mercedes guy says they are "not putting dots on a map". Mercedes is an old company and they are playing for the long term. I suppose in 15 or 20 years, they will build out a network that can be relied on when traveling, but without "dots on a map" it does not seem viable. But if I buy a Mercedes today, or any other EV besides Tesla, where can I charge it when I go on a road trip? Relying on the non-Tesla charging infrastructure available today is not something I would be comfortable doing. Kind of like the cell phone coverage in the 80's and early to mid 90's, coverage was just available in more populated areas. In 50 or 100 years, it will be like the difference between 1900 and 2000 for gas stations. But I am alive today.

[@nextechsolutions5955]

Hello Kyle, they (MB) desperately need to open a charge-station in LA. It looks like they’re preparing to go direct-to-customer sales as well?!?

[@cordkretzschmar5693]

This seems to be the way to make charging convenient

[@dailydrivenH2]

nice video as always . here in Los Angeles they better put a code to them bathrooms or else it wont be as clean .

[@patrick7228]

Freaking amazing! Feel like I'm looking at the future.

[@simonhunter8338]

A very short future, for a very special few...

[@godofdun]

Canopies, canopies for all!

[@nicolebradley3959]

Tesla has really made it work!

[@Defianthuman]

3:12 what about the Rivian Adventure Network? Operated by Rivian, available to everyone. 5:30 But no windshield cleaning like a gas station.

[@LuckyAeon]

Damn both those Mercedez workers look like models

[@kodekabuki]

Looks great but realistically how many are they going to build in the next year? If they don’t build out a new station every week, it’s going to be pointless. They’re never going to scale up fast enough to have viable charging network.