Clean air, ‘work of art’ software for Mercedes-Benz EQ models

Mercedes-Benz is promising industry-leading software, CO2-neutral charging and the availability of a hospital-grade air filter for its upcoming EQS electric limousine.

The latest in a growing line of media communications spruiking its growing EQ family – a range of electric cars promising “progressive luxury” as well as Mercedes-Benz electric vans – focuses on an optional cabin air filter.

The new HEPA (highly-efficient particulate air) filter is designed to remove not only dust but various oxides and even “unpleasant odours” to deliver “air quality comparable to that in cleaning and operating rooms”.

Benz says it’s all about innovation, something many traditional car makers have been outdone on in the race to electrification.

“The EQS, with its more than 700km of electric range according to the WLTP, the most intelligent MBUX in its most beautiful form and its certified air filtering system, which achieves the air quality of an operating room, shows only a few examples of the technological innovations of our electric platform,” says Christoph Starzynski, head of Mercedes-EQ.

Mercedes-Benz even says the new filter makes it the first car to meet some fancy German standard (DIN EN 1822, in case you’re wondering).

In an apparent nod to Tesla – regarded as having some of the best software in the business – world’s oldest car maker appears to have a heavier focus on software development.

“A well-written code is like a work of art,” says Sajjad Khan, the Mercedes-Benz chief technical officer for CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and services, and electric).

“And we will offer our best software solution to date in the new EQS. The underlying AI is revolutionary, and the learning system beyond that is more impressive with every use.”

Khan says over-the-air updates being rolled out on new Mercedes-Benzes will “continue to amaze in the future” due to the ability to deliver “unbelievable creative scope”.

Mercedes-Benz has also developed “Green Charging” for its EQ models, at least in Europe.

The Mercedes Me Charge app directs owners to the 175,000 European public charging stations supplying electricity created from renewables.

Not that the electricity that may be directly fed into the car will necessarily be clean and green.

Instead, Mercedes-Benz says it monitors the amount of electricity being fed into its cars and “ensures that an equivalent amount of electricity from renewable resources is fed into the grid for charging electric vehicles”.

“This means that the charged amounts of energy are compensated with green power after the actual charging process,” the company says.

Mercedes-Benz says it’s about meeting customer expectations for vehicles that are kinder on the planet.

“Our aspiration is to bring modern luxury and sustainability in our products into harmony with a fascinating customer experience,” says Britta Seeger, member of the Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG Boards of Management, responsible for marketing and sales.

“With our new Green Charging solution, we are taking an important step here that benefits not only our customers, but also the environment. In doing so, we actively contribute to cutting CO2 emissions and thereby are taking the path to the CO2-neutral mobility of the future with our Ambition 2039.”