Mercedes-EQ and Mercedes EQ Power: What’s the Difference?
May 31 2023,
As Mercedes continues down the road to electrification, the brand is splitting its efforts into two paths: Mercedes-EQ and Mercedes EQ Power, two variations on the theme of electrification – a word that has a variety of definitions -- that’s rolling through the automotive landscape as we try to reduce our carbon emissions, save money at the pump and harness the power of electrification. When properly engineered, electrification can do wonders for both the drive and quality of life inside Mercedes cars today.
Mercedes EQ Power
When we speak about “electrification”, we’re not necessarily speaking of a fully battery-electric vehicle, or BEV. These are vehicles with no form of gas power at all; just electric power. Another way of looking at electrification is from the angle of hybrids, both of the standard and plug-in variety. Mercedes EQ Power vehicles sit firmly in that realm.
Plug-in hybrids – or “PHEVs” – in the EQ Power line-up are able to cruise in full-electric mode for up to 100 km in some cases, with brake regeneration and gas motor regeneration occurring as you drive. That means that if you have short journeys as part of your daily commute and can plug-in at the end of the day, then you could be in full EV mode almost all the time.
In addition to the EQ Power models, most Mercedes-Benz products now feature EQ Boost technology which uses an electronic starter-generator to save fuel on start-up and also adds a small electric motor to make for better acceleration as well as the ability for the powertrain to shut down during low load situations such as when cruising on the highway.
Mercedes-EQ
Mercedes offers a line of BEVs as well, and these all fall under the Mercedes-EQ banner. Vehicles like the EQS sedan and SUVs, the EQE sedan and SUVs and the EQB compact crossover all benefit from full-electric powertrains. There are no gas motors to speak of at work here at all; just EV motors and large lithium-ion batteries for their propulsion.
This of course means fully emissions-free driving but also a healthy dose of performance, since EV power is made immediately and doesn’t have to wait for gears to become engaged in order to commence forward progress. Add the fact that Mercedes’ AMG tuning arm has had their hand in developing some of the EQ models (the EQS AMG sedan makes 516 horsepower and a colossal 700 pound-feet of torque) and you can see how electrification can be efficient to be sure, but fun as well.
