Mercedes’ offensive in the world of electrics continues, and today we are going to see the Mercedes EQE, an electric sedan that has it under the hood. More specifically, we’ll focus on its ability to carve the road, using our great reference routes.
Electric sedans had a big year in 2022, with plenty of premium models available. In addition to the Tesla Model 3 and the Model S, we find a few German ones in particular: the BMW i4, the Porsche Taycan, or the Mercedes EQE, to which we will return in this file.
While everyday life is no problem for an electric car as long as you have a charging solution, long trips that exceed the range of the vehicle require a bit of organization. So let’s put the Mercedes EQE to the test, using two reference routes planned through A Better Route Planner.
As usual, the rules are as follows: the departure is carried out at 100% battery, the arrival at 20% and the vehicle must circulate at the maximum speeds. After a reminder of the characteristics of the Mercedes EQE, we will examine in detail the different journeys in terms of duration, number of charges and associated costs. Below you will find the summary tables where the differences between each vehicle will be quickly visible.
The characteristics of the Mercedes EQE
The Mercedes EQE 300 is one of the electric vehicles that offers the most autonomy. In fact, in the WLTP mixed cycle, Mercedes announces up to 639 kilometers of autonomy. Its 89 kWh battery combined with its fast charging capability (170 kW peak) is a great advantage in our exercise.
To fill the battery to 80% in about thirty minutes, we use the various charging networks currently present in France: Ionity, Fastned, Allego or Tesla Superchargers open to all. For reasons of simplification, We consider the average price of fast charging at 0.68 euros per kilowatt hour. Please note, however, that some charges may be more expensive or even cheaper using multiple subscriptions or credit cards.
As usual, A Better Route Planner is used to plan trips, with the default consumption reference of the Mercedes EQE 300.
Route planning
Put all vehicles on an equal footing, We start trips at 100% battery, taking into account that you have to pay for this filling at the average price per kWh in France, currently at 0.17 euros. The 89 kWh then represent 15 euros : we take this cost into account in addition to that of fast charging at the time of the balance for each long journey.
The first big trip will simulate a summer vacation from Orleans to Arcachon (530 kilometers). The winter route will start in Caen and end in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (850 kilometres).
For the summer route, the parameters displayed in A Better Route Planner are as follows: 25 degrees Celsius outside temperature, no wind, arrival at a charging station with 10% battery remaining, and arrival at destination with 20 %. For the winter trip, it is essentially the same, apart from the weather, where we choose a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius.
The balance of the different routes
Twenty minutes of charging for 530 kilometers
With a WLTP range of more than 600 kilometres, a 530 kilometer route such as the one we have chosen obviously does not pose any particular problem. However, a charge is required to reach Arcachon with 20% battery.
23 minutes in Ionity, for a cost of 28 eurosand here is the Mercedes EQE at almost 80%, enough to reach the destination without incident.
With only 70% battery, A Better Route Planner estimates thatit is possible to travel 280 kilometers at highway speed in a Mercedes EQE, which is remarkable. The estimated fuel consumption for this trip is approximately 203 Wh/km, which corresponds to a autonomy of 430 kilometers with 100% battery.
Total travel time is 4 hours and 51 minutes, or almost 110 km/h on average, including charging.
Three small charges and then go
When winter comes, electric vehicles no longer have the same performance. Whether due to increased consumption or fast charging that is no longer as optimized as in summer, conditions are difficult for many vehicles.
The Mercedes EQE seems to be only slightly affected by a temperature of 0 degrees and a positive dip, since A Better Route Planner only offers three charges (14, 24 and 31 minutes) on a 850 kilometer route.
Three different networks are used in the course: Fastned, Tesla and Allego, which shows that the variety of fast charging networks is of great interest to the end customer. In fact, you can stop where you want, according to your needs and preferences. The costs associated with these three charges are estimated at 97 euros, and adding the cost of leaving home, the price of this trip is estimated at 112 euros.
Consumption for its part is shown at 240 Wh/km, which gives us a Autonomy of 370 kilometers in winter conditions for the Mercedes EQE. This corresponds to approximately 20% less than in the mildest conditions of the summer trip.
Consumption, recharging cost and autonomy
Below you will find the summary tables of the different vehicles that we have already presented to this exercise. Counting each time the starting charge at home, you can compare the good students and the bad ones, to more easily determine the vehicle that suits you best.
| Vehicle | summer trip cost | Summer trip loading time | Total summer travel time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 Propulsion | €36 – €49 | 31 minutes | 5h09m |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | €31 – €45 | 13 – 25 minutes | 4h 56min |
| EV6 58 kWh | €52 – €60 | 38 – 43 minutes | 5h30min |
| bmw i4 | €48 – €58 | 22 – 37 minutes | 5h11min |
| hyundai ioniq 5 | €72 | 36 minutes | 5h16min |
| mercedes benz eqs | €44 | 14 minutes | 4h 48min |
| Tesla Model Y Propulsion | €46 | 34 minutes | 5h30min |
| MG MG4 64 kWh | €66 | 49 minutes | 5h 39min |
| Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 | €67 | 56 minutes | 5h 40min |
| EV6 77 kWh | €56 | 26 minutes | 5h07min |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | €61 | 58 minutes | 5h47min |
| Peugeot e-208 | €73 | 1 hour 13 minutes | 6h09m |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | €46 | 14 minutes | 4h 52min |
| Tesla model S | €34 | 9 minutes | 4h 47min |
| Skoda Enyak iV 80 | €51 | 27 minutes | 5h01min |
| Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe 60 | €58 | 42 minutes | 5h19m |
| VW ID. Buzz | €82 | 48 minutes | 5h 37min |
| MG MG5 | €55 | 1 hour 03 minutes | 5h40min |
| porsche taycan | €61 | 19 minutes | 4h 51min |
| Mercedes EQE 300 | €43 | 23 minutes | 4h 54min |
| Cupra Born VZ XL | €48 | 33 minutes | 5h05min |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S | €46 | 44 minutes | 5h16min |
| Vehicle | winter travel cost | Winter trip charging time | Total travel time in winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 Propulsion | €102 | 1 hour 42 minutes | 9:16 a.m. |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | €101.3 | 1 hour 02 minutes | 8h27 |
| EV6 58 kWh | €120 | 1hr 54min | 9:59 a.m. |
| bmw i4 | €147 | 1 hour 32 minutes | 9:08 a.m. |
| hyundai ioniq 5 | €145 | 1hr 29min | 9:14 a.m. |
| mercedes benz eqs | €115 | 50 minutes | 8:03 a.m. |
| Tesla Model Y Propulsion | €120 | 1 hour 46 minutes | 9:42 a.m. |
| MG MG4 | €109 – €141 | 2h23min | 10:02 a.m. |
| Renault Megane E-Tech EV60 | €104 – €139 | 2h12min | 9:49 a.m. |
| EV6 77 kWh | €143 | 1 hour 14 minutes | 8h 54min |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | €98 – €132 | 2h24min | 10:01 a.m. |
| Peugeot e-208 | €168 | 2h 49min | 10:59 a.m. |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | €104 | 42 minutes | 8:05 a.m. |
| Tesla model S | €88 | 33 minutes | 7:55 a.m. |
| Skoda Enyak iV 80 | €113 | 1 hour 18 minutes | 8h33m |
| Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe 60 | €118 | 1 hour 46 minutes | 9:04 a.m. |
| VW ID. Buzz | €182 | 2h04min | 9:41 a.m. |
| MG MG5 | €122 | 2h36min | 10:01 a.m. |
| porsche taycan | €146 | 58 minutes | 8:05 a.m. |
| Mercedes EQE 300 | €112 | 1 hour 09 minutes | 8:32 a.m. |
| Cupra Born VZ XL | €108 | 1 hour 41 minutes | 9:06 a.m. |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S | €105 | 1 hour 35 minutes | 8h 58min |
The Mercedes EQE feels comfortable on long journeys
With a WLTP range of more than 600 kilometres, It is not a surprise to see the Mercedes EQE shine in this exercise of long trips. In fact, in summer as in winter, it manages to cover almost 300 kilometers before needing to recharge for the first time. In terms of costs, the summer route is shown at 8 euros per 100 kilometers, and the winter route goes up to 13.20 euros per 100 kilometers.
This corresponds respectively to a thermal vehicle that consumes around 4.50 to 7.30 liters per 100 kilometers. Given the range in which the Mercedes EQE is located, an equivalent thermal vehicle is likely to be much more expensive, even on long journeys. On a day-to-day basis, there is no possible comparison, since the Mercedes EQE easily shows a cost close to two euros per 100 kilometers when charging it at home in off-peak hours.
In addition to the comparison with a thermal vehicle, this exercise allows us to see where the Mercedes EQE stands against its direct competitors. The BMW i4 costs around 30% more on the two long journeys, in addition to requiring more time to recharge. The same goes for the Porsche Taycan, for example, and only the Tesla Model S and Model 3 manage to hold their own against EQE.
Nevertheless, Elon Musk’s signature vehicles are not capable of offering equivalent luxury services : the soundproofing, the flexibility of the suspensions or the quality of the interior are an advantage for the Mercedes EQE, without a doubt. For those who put this at the forefront, there is no doubt that the few tens of euros to pay more during long trips will not be a determining factor in their choice of vehicle.
What if charging an electric car was even cheaper than we imagined? Free charges still exist as of early 2023, but are becoming more rare. Let’s do together…
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