• Mercedes-Benz announced its latest EQ model.
• The EQA joins the EQC and EQS that will be launched later this year.
• The EQA is an entry-level compact electric car with a range of 426km and offers 140kW.
As the phasing out of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars continues, by countries and major cities across the world, the demand for electric cars has increased significantly.
The likes Norway, Belgium, India, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, France, Spain and the US state of California all have set concrete dates in the next twenty years, when partial or complete bans on combustion engine-powered passenger cars will take effect.
Governments find the banning of ICE car attractive as they seek to reduce emissions that were signed in agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreements.
Last year, carmakers sold over 500 000 fully-electric cars in Europe alone, the Guardian reported. The biggest carmakers in the world are now rolling out electric versions of legacy models, while simultaneously creating niche electric sub brands to woo consumers.
Mercedes-Benz has been on an EV push in the last two years with unveiling two standalone EVs: the EQC and the flagship EQS. The latter model was recently announced to feature a 141cm hyper screen in the new EV.
Hot on the heels of that news is the unveiling of a new EV from Mercedes, the EQA. What's significant about the EQA is that it is the smallest and likely most affordable EV offered from the Stuttgart-based brand.
The compact crossover will go on sale in Europe from next month and boasts a range of 426km. Mercedes said via a virtual launch that a second model with a 500km range will join the line up later this year.
The entry-level model will be launched as the EQA 250 with 140kW. The second model will be sportier all-wheel-drive model with an output of 200kW or more.
The Mercedes-EQ approach is one that sees the key to a bigger range not in ever-larger batteries, but in systematic improvement in the efficiency of all vehicle components.
When it comes to charging, the company says via the Mercedes me Charge app, customers have access to what is currently the world's biggest charging network: this currently comprises more than 450 000 AC and DC charging points across 31 countries.
The EQA is the answer by Mercedes to the decision by several European countries to decision to switch to EVs at least by 2030 in some instances.
Traditional carmakers are playing catch up to the likes of Tesla who dominate world sales with its Model 3. The EQA will go some way to establish a foot print in Europe and the United States for the German luxury brand.
