Bojan Vrbnjak
Who expected that? There are probably not a few of you who would now say: "It was obvious, wasn't it?" Mercedes he has to admit now that he might have been a bit too euphoric regarding his transition to electromobility. Some will follow with this kind of recognition other manufacturers? Especially in Europe?
At the press conference on the annual results for 2023 the German premium vehicle manufacturer said it is now working to achieve 50% share plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars by the year 2030. Compared to the original plan, it is a five-year delay. In July 2021, the automaker still estimated that they would be by the year 2025 PHEV and BEV vehicles accounted for half of Mercedes' total sales. If you follow the three-pointed star a little more closely, you may remember the strategy “Ambition 2039", which was introduced a few years ago. One of the sentences in the extraordinary extensive document especially attracted the attention of various journalists: "By the end of this decade, Mercedes-Benz Cars wants to become fully electric – where market conditions allow.” The statement was somewhat unclear, on the other hand also clear enough, to address the company's ambitious electric vehicle goals.
Mercedes in a new document for investors, he estimates that they will hybrids and electric cars in the second half of the decade represented "up to 50 percent", but only, "if market conditions allow". Car manufacturer also states that "able to respond to various customer needs even by 2030". Of course, we can also say that there will be cars with engines with internal combustion came to world markets even further ten years or more. Meanwhile, the CEO also had to Wave Källenius recognize that cars with conventional drive still cash flow foundation companies. For television Bloomberg he said that he equalization of costs between internal combustion cars and electric cars"many years to come".
Presentation to investors showed that production costs of electric cars they will not be reduced to the level of internal combustion cars in this decade. And this despite the fact that there will be production petrol and diesel engines are likely to be more expensive as soon as the standard comes into effect Euro 7. Mercedes delivered last year 401.943 plug-in hybrids in fully electric cars, which is 20,5 percent more than the year before. Sales PHEV is decreased by 12,5 percent na 161.275 units, while it is being sold of electric vehicles increased by 61,3 percent na 240.668 units. Electrified cars represented 19,7 percent of the total volume (compared to 16,3 percent in 2022). Goal for the year 2024 is the share between 19 and 21 percent.
Let's look a little further: a new MMA platform was developed primarily for electric cars, but still supports use internal combustion engines. It will form the basis of at least four models already confirmed in the product roadmap: CLA, CLA Shooting Brake in GLB. This base will most likely be used by the already strongly announced "little Mr", the younger brother of the legendary G class. Fully electric models should after WLTP reached up to 750 kilometers range and allowed charging at a speed of up to 300 kW. That means it is possible 400 kilometers range fill in 15 minutes. Mercedes also promises two-way charging. Depending on the model and version, the power should be between the good ones 200 and 540 hp.
