Mercedes-Benz has launched the EQC, its first all-electric luxury offering at Rs 99.3 lakh for the first 50 units which will be available in six cities, namely Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad. The EQC is an especially important car for Mercedes-Benz, as it kicks off the brand’s ‘sustainable luxury’ push to start CO2 neutral car production by 2022; electrify 50 per cent of its portfolio by 2030, and finally transition its entire fleet to CO2 neutral status by 2039.
High-tech gadgetry
The EQC is derived from the GLC, and is 100mm longer with an 85kWh lithium-ion battery pack (located under the floor) which weighs a substantial 650kg and offers a claimed 450km of range. The EQC is mostly front-wheel-drive, though power can be sent to both axles when needed. The battery can be charged up completely in 21 hours using a household socket, in 10 hours via the AC-charging wall box (which Mercedes supplies with the EQC) or in 90 minutes on a DC fast charger.
Neck-snapping power
The party trick (no matter how clichéd it sounds) for all electric vehicles is the availability of their entire torque from standstill. This is the same with the EQC as all of its 760Nm (!) of torque steps in right from the get-go, taking this 2495kg behemoth to 100kmph in a scant 5.1 seconds, and on to a 185kmph top speed.
First come, first served
With the EQC, Mercedes-Benz has pulled off a masterstroke with regards to getting the Indian crowd acquainted with a truly ‘luxury’ e-SUV. Yes, we already know of the Jaguar i-Pace, Audi e-Tron, and more recently the Volkswagen ID.4; but it is the Mercedes that, as history shall remember, beat them all to the draw!