Mercedes Kicks off Dedicated EV Lineup with Flagship EQS

April 19, 2021

Paul Seredynski

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the all-new 2022 EQS EV sedan. The EQS is the first all-electric luxury 4-door model from Mercedes built upon a dedicated (and modular) EV platform. The same architecture is pegged to underpin a new executive (E-Class) sedan and luxury SUV beginning next year. Though no pricing was announced during the virtual reveal, the 2022 Mercedes EQS is expected to launch in the U.S. this fall with two models, the single-motor, RWD EQS 450+, and the dual-motor, AWD EQS 580 4MATIC.

The EQS will be motivated by Mercedes’ eATS “permanently excited synchronous motors” (PSM), producing 329 hp/406 lb-ft (245 kW/568 Nm) in the 450, and 516 hp/611 lb-ft (385 kW/855 Nm) in the 580. Mercedes is claiming a 5.5/4.1s 0-60 mph time for the 450/580 models, respectively, and top speed in both models will be governed to 130 mph (209 kph). A performance version of the EQS with 630 hp (470 kW) is already in development.

The EQS has generous proportions similar to previous S-Class vehicles, with length/width/height specs of 205.4/83.7/59.5 in (5217/2126/1511 mm) and a 65.6/66.2 in (1666/1681 mm) F/R track. Mercedes is claiming more interior space than any other vehicle in its class, and also the lowest drag coefficient of any production vehicle, with a Cd of 0.201 and a frontal area of 2.51 m2 (27 ft2). The nearly 17-foot-long EQS will offer two rear-axle steering setups, 4.5° or 10°, netting compact car turning circles of 39/35.7 ft (11.9/10.9 m) respectively.

Using modular 10- or 12-cell packs, two batteries will be offered in the EQS: 90 kWh for RWD models; 108 kWh for AWD models, both operating at 400 Volts. The onboard charger is a 9.6 kW unit capable of recharging the vehicle in under 12 hours. DC rapid charging is available up to 200 kW and can add 300 km (186 mi) of range in 15 minutes, and maximum driving range for the EQC is rated at 770 km (478 mi) on the WLTP cycle. Battery packs will be produced at the Mercedes Hedelfingen plant (just south of the Untertürkheim manufacturing facility east of Stuttgart), using carbon-neutral sustainable energy starting in 2022.

The EQS features a new generation of in-house developed lithium-ion batteries with energy density improved nearly 26% compared to the current EQC EV. The cobalt content of the cathodes has been reduced to 10%, with cell chemistry consisting of nickel, cobalt and manganese in an 8:1:1 ratio. The battery management software, developed in-house, allows updates over the air (OTA), helping keep energy management up to date throughout the EQS lifecycle.

The battery packs are heated/cooled through cavities in the battery’s aluminum frame, and intelligent thermal management can be tied to navigation. This lets the battery be preheated or cooled while driving so it’s at an ideal temperature for an upcoming fast-charging station. This permits shorter charging times, and, for safety, vehicle crash monitoring remains active when the EQS is stationary during DC fast charging. With such a large battery, Mercedes is addressing customer wariness about capacity drop-off through a “performance promise” certificate, which covers loss of battery capacity for 10 years or 250,000 km (155,000 mi).

As a Mercedes flagship, to say the EQS is overflowing with technology would be a woeful understatement. Beyond the enormous “zero layer” MBUX Hyperscreen, the EQS is available with nearly every conceivable safety and convenience feature, and the EV sedan will offer SAE Level 3 autonomous driving capability featuring Swedish-supplier Veoneer’s 4^th-generation stereo vision camera system and 77GHz radars. The EQS will sport up to 350 sensors, recording everything from lighting conditions, precipitation, temperatures, seat occupancy, even driver eye blinks and passenger speech.

A new feature derived from all the monitoring is a microsleep warning function, which analyzes driver eyelid movements through a camera on the driver's display. Also available on the EQS will be automatic front and rear doors. When the driver approaches the car, the door handle extends, then the driver's door opens automatically. Once the brake pedal is depressed, the driver’s door can be closed automatically with a gesture, and the driver can open the passenger and rear doors remotely.