Drivers at 47 European fast-charging parks are now plugging in at Electra sites. The French operator has taken on the former Mercedes-Benz hubs and their 374 charging points, and Mercedes drivers gain preferential access to its wider network.
What exactly is changing hands?
Electra says 47 Mercedes-Benz charging hubs became part of its network on 1 November. Together, those sites hold 374 charging points, and 31 of the hubs are in Germany and six in Austria. The companies’ announcement doesn’t name the other locations.
Their joint wording describes a partnership, and it doesn’t mention a sale. However, trade reports describe Mercedes-Benz giving up the parks, under an agreement reportedly signed in August. The price hasn’t been disclosed, and the technical transition is reportedly complete.
What changes for drivers?
Electra says the on-site charging experience stays the same. Over time, though, the sites will look different, with Electra’s livery reportedly replacing the Mercedes stars and new payment terminals going in.
Mercedes-Benz drivers gain access to more than 800 Electra stations through MB.CHARGE Public. The benefits include preferential rates, depending on tariff, and access through the car’s system or the app. Compatible cars can also reserve a charging point before arrival. Using the service requires a separate charging contract with a third-party provider.
The companies highlight these benefits for Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland. Until now, Ionity was reportedly the only premium partner in the Mercedes-Benz charging programme, so the deal gives customers a second large network with those terms.
Mercedes-Benz owners should check their tariff before relying on a particular rate, because the discount depends on it. Other drivers can keep using the sites too, although the payment terminals are reportedly being swapped.
Who is Electra?
Electra was founded in 2020 and focuses on fast-charging stations. The company now has more than 800 stations and about 5,000 charging points across ten European countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.
It reports network availability above 98.5 per cent, a company figure, and charging power of up to 600 kW at selected sites. Those numbers apply across its network, so they don’t tell drivers how each former Mercedes-Benz hub will perform.
What does EUR 200m mean for Germany?
Electra plans to invest EUR 200m in Germany next year. The German release treats that spending as separate from the Mercedes-Benz partnership, and it doesn’t break down how many sites the money will fund.
The hubs already lift Electra’s German network from 50 to 81 stations. By taking on working sites, Electra also avoids the wait for land, permits and grid connections that comes with building new ones.
What did the two companies say?
“Mercedes-Benz built charging hubs to a standard few networks match,” said Aurélien de Meaux, chief executive of Electra. “We are proud they chose Electra to carry that standard forward, and to open our entire network to their drivers with preferential rates, reservation and access straight from the car.”
Nico Dettmer, global head of Mercedes-Benz Charging Solutions, focused on the wider reach for customers. “Together with Electra, we are making fast charging across Europe even more accessible and convenient, adding more than 800 locations to our premium partnership network and bringing a seamless charging experience to our customers,” he said.
Why would a carmaker give up its own chargers?
Neither company has set out a financial reason in its announcement. Even so, running a charging network is a very different business from building cars. It needs constant maintenance, grid connections, payment systems and customer support, and returns depend on how often drivers use each site.
The move doesn’t end Mercedes-Benz’s charging business everywhere. Its own network reportedly remains in China and the US for now.
How does this fit the wider European charging market?
Operators across Europe are changing how they run their sites. For example, Ionity plans battery storage at 50 of its charging parks. For drivers on long journeys, the immediate effect of the Electra deal is a larger network to choose from, reached through the same in-car system.
