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First Mercedes-Benz fully-electric premium MPV to make public debut next month

Mercedes-Benz is wasting no time building up its EQ range of fully-electric models. Following the launch of the EQC SUV at the 2018 Paris Motorshow, it will unveil its first fully-electric premium MPV at the Frankfurt Motorshow next month. The new EQV is based on the Concept EQV that was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year.

“Our MPVs meet the highest standards in terms of functionality and variability. The EQV also does not compromise in this respect. It offers comfortable handling, dynamic electro-aesthetics, intuitive operation and generous space – and all locally emissions-free. This means that it offers all of the typical qualities of the brand and segment that our customers expect, whether as a family car or a shuttle vehicle with a lounge-like character”, says Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

150 kW drivetrain, 405 kms range
The electric drivetrain (eATS) of the EQV is situated on the front axle under the front end with a charging connection in the bumper. It has a peak output of 150 kW which can take the MPV up to a claimed maximum speed of 160 km/h. It has a claimed range of 405 kms and with rapid charging, the high-voltage battery pack can be ‘refuelled’ from 10% to 80% within less than an hour.

The electric motor, the transmission with a fixed gear ratio, the cooling system and the power electronics constitute a highly integrated, compact unit. Power is provided by a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor of the vehicle. Its low, central location also has a positive effect on the handling characteristics of the EQV.

Battery pack is constantly recharged
As standard, the EQV will be equipped with a water-cooled on-board charger with a capacity of 11 kW, making it suitable for AC charging at home or at public charging stations. To ensure that the technical operating range is used to the maximum, the EQV also charges its batteries when on the move. When accelerating or braking, the mechanical rotation is converted into electrical energy and used to charge the high-voltage battery (recuperation).

The driver has a major influence on recuperation. He or she is also able to influence the recuperation level using paddles behind the steering wheel. The paddle on the left increases the level of recuperation, the paddle on the right reduces it. At the weakest level, the vehicle ‘coasts’ while at the strongest level, it is possible to drive using a single pedal. This is because, in most situations, the slowing effect of recuperation is sufficient to make the brake pedal redundant.

The recuperation level D Auto reflects the intelligence of the EQV. The automatically activated ECO Assistant helps the driver to achieve the best possible efficiency. It combines navigation data, road traffic sign recognition and information provided by the intelligent safety assistance systems (radar and camera) and adjusts the level of recuperation itself.

In combination with EQ-optimised navigation, active range monitoring ensures that the driver reaches the destination safely even if a charging stop is missed. It is also assisted by the E+ driving mode, which optimises the vehicle’s parameters to maximise the range.

Flexible seating for 6 to 8 persons
For flexibility, the EQV will be offered with two different wheelbase dimensions. It can be configured as a 6-seater with individual seats for high-quality transportation, or converted into a 7 or even an 8-seater to serve as a shuttle.

The refinement of MBUX (the Mercedes-Benz user interface) specifically for EQ is a particular highlight. In the high-resolution, 10-inch media display, the EQ tile in the main menu serves as a central point of access to the specific displays and settings. These include the charging current, departure time, energy flow and consumption histogram. EQV drivers can plan their destinations from the home or office, enter a departure time and bring the interior to the desired temperature.

The EQV will be produced at a factory in northern Spain where the V-Class and Vito models are also made. This facilitates flexible and synergetic production in direct correlation with customer demand globally.

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Proton now has the largest 3S/4S network in the country

Every car company wants to sell as many vehicles as possible and each year, there is the expectation that there will be more deliveries than the year before. However, as some companies have discovered to their regret, the pursuit of more and more sales without equal attention to expanding the aftersales network – especially authorised service centres – can create problems for customers. Lack of advance planning to cope with an increased number of new vehicles requiring regular servicing will mean customers have to wait longer for an appointment.

Push to upgrade network for future
One of the first things which Proton did after it had Geely as a partner was to review its entire network and upgrade it. Though there were many dealers all over the country, not all were offering the full range of services for customers and in order to enhance the ownership experience, Proton aimed to get its network to be majority 3S/4S outlets. This meant that they would have sales, service and spare parts (3S) at one location, and those with additional space would also have extra services such as painting and body repair (4S).

The initiative was initially met with resistance as it required large investments. There were many small dealers who had just a showroom in a single shoplot and were satisfied just selling a few cars a month all the while. They didn’t understand that with additional investment to upgrade their dealership, they could grow their business further and derive extra income from aftersales services. Instead, their customers were being ‘stolen’ by dealerships which would look after their needs and probably sell them their next Proton. So these one-shoplot dealerships (referred to as ‘1S’ in the industry) could never grow as the only money they made was from the sale of the car. As those in the car business will tell you, there is much more money to be made in the aftersales side.

Proton’s CEO, Dr. Li Chunrong, pushed hard for the upgrades in spite of criticism by certain groups but he explained that it was necessary to prepare the network for growth and to ensure that customers would have a better ownership experience. There was no point in developing better models if the aftersales support was poor and people felt the brand image was not something they were proud of.

100 3S/4S outlets to date
With the opening of a new outlet in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, recently, Proton now has 100 3S/4S outlets nationwide, which makes it the brand with the largest such network. The new 3S outlet at the Oakland Industrial Park was built with an investment of approximately RM4 million. Located near the Seremban 2 Township, it is surrounded by new malls and housing areas which already have many Proton owners and will have many more in future.

“What we have achieved is the culmination of hard work, dedication and commitment by the entire Proton family, from our vendors, dealers and talents in the company. From the beginning, we held the belief that to progress, we need sufficient outlets, good products, great technology in our cars and talent to manage the expectations of the company,” said Dr. Li.

“The results speak for themselves. Our sales have soared and we have since reclaimed the second spot since April this year. Total sales for the month ending July stand at 52,269 units compared to 35,561 in the same period last year, which equates to 47% growth in overall year-on-year sales,” he added.

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Visit www.proton.com to locate showrooms and service centres in Malaysia