Mercedes-Benz has flooded the newswire today, sharing multiple press releases surrounding its EV technology. Today’s news includes more granular details relating to its upcoming EQE SUV, as well as first images and specs for the Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV that will soon join it. There is A LOT to unfold here, so let’s hop right in..
Mercedes–Benz is still in the early phases of rolling out its EQ line of electric vehicles, as works to eventually become an all-electric luxury automotive brand. This transition began with the EQS sedan, which was soon followed by the smaller EQE model.
In addition to EQC and EQB models, Mercedes has been teasing a seven-seat EQS SUV, scheduled to arrive later this year. Naturally, Mercedes, has followed the same production path as its sedans by also introducing plans for an EQE SUV.
The public caught its first glimpse of the EQE SUV’s interior this past August, with a promise from Mercedes for more details this fall. Here we sit in mid-October and Mercedes-Benz has made good on its word. It shared not one, but three different press releases today, outlining details of the EQE SUV and beyond. Let’s start with the standard version.
Mercedes’ EQE SUV will arrive with up to 342 mile range
According to its press release today, the EQE SUV will come more compact than its sedan counterpart, but more still spacious inside. Mercedes-Benz expects the EQE SUV to offer similar range to the EQE sedans, estimating WLTP over 550 km (342 miles) for European versions.
The SUV’s chief engineer Dr. Oliver Röcker spoke to some of the EV’s highlights:
Our large Mercedes-EQ models are so full of innovations that I find it difficult to pick out individual highlights. Even I, as a technician, am always thrilled by the futuristic architecture of the interior with the MBUX Hyperscreen. But, as is typical of Mercedes-Benz, we didn’t leave it at this visual “wow effect”. With the camera-based blocking logic of the front passenger display, we have added a truly customer-centric technical innovation to the imposing screen band. This allows the front passenger to watch TV during a journey, for example, without distracting the driver. And so I could list many more large and small examples of the innovations in this model family – from A for the assistance systems to Z for zero layer.
The SUV’s lithium-ion battery consists of ten modules, and its management software, developed in-house, allows for over-the-air (OTA) updates to keep energy management up-to-date. This press release alone is 35-pages long, so we recommend checking it on your own time. Here, we’ve highlighted some the key specs you can expect to see. Spoiler alert: We don’t have pricing yet.
Wheelbase: 119.3 inches (3.5 in shorter than EQE sedan)
Plug & charge capable
Heat pump standard
DIGITAL LIGHT headlamp technology (optional add-on)
Projects auxiliary markings or warning symbols onto the road
There’s plenty more to uncover, but we’re going to move onto the high-performance AMG version of the EQE SUV, which also made its official debut today.
Mercedes-AMG introduces performance EQS SUV as well
In Mercedes second press release today, it offered the public its first look at the AMG version of the EQE SUV, which will arrive with less range, but higher performance and a unique look only the German performance unit can deliver.
Although Mercedes-AMG has already developed performance versions of other EQ line electric vehicles, this will be its first-ever SUV. The companies have taken the base design of the EQE SUV outlined above and have elevated it both inside and out. Per the release:
Two powerful electric motors and fully variable all-wheel drive form the basis for the hallmark AMG dynamic driving experience. The Mercedes-AMG developers have also designed many other parameters independently. These include the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with Adaptive Damping System, rear-axle steering and AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL – an AMG-specific roll stabilization system. Added to this are the AMG SOUND EXPERIENCE and exterior and interior design.
On the exterior, the AMG black panel radiator grill comes with hot-stamped vertical struts in chrome, integrated Mercedes star, and “AMG” lettering. A new feature seen in the images above is the brand-specific badge on the hood with the AMG emblem instead of the Mercedes star – its first time present on a purely electric vehicle from Mercedes-AMG. The front end also features an AMG-specific fascia, painted in body color with A-wing in high-gloss black and chrome trim.
Inside the SUV, the dashboard features an instrument panel and belt lines in Space Grey MB-Tex with red topstitching. The door center panels transition from the center console into the instrument panel in black microfiber and more red topstitching, accented by an AMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leather with a flattened bottom, perforated grip area, and silver aluminum adjustment paddles. Other unique details include AMG sport pedals, AMG floor mats, and illuminated door sill panels with “AMG” lettering.
The AMG version of the EQE SUV can be equipped with an optional MBUX curved Hyperscreen that extends from A-pillar to A-pillar, complete with three separate screens inside one piece of glass. Its here that future drivers will be able to select from several different driving characteristics, using Mercedes-AMG’s AMG DYNAMIC SELECT programs:
Drive Program
EQE SUV Output Level
Slippery
50% (308 hp)
Comfort
80% (493 hp)
Sport
90% (555 hp)
Sport+
100% (617 hp)
RACE START without Boost function
100% (617 hp)
RACE START with Boost function (included in AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package)
110% (677 hp)
Much like the original EQE SUV press release, there are tons of specs and granular descriptions of the upcoming EV inside and out, so we highly recommend checking them all out for yourself. If you’re in a rush however, here’s a pretty decent breakdown of all the pertinent specs available on the AMG version.
Estimated 3.4 seconds (with AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package)
Top Speed
137 mph (149 mph with AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package)
Range (WLTP)
375–470 km (provisional) / 233-292 miles
Pricing and availability
According to Mercedes-Benz, the standard version of the EQE SUV will begin production this December at the automaker’s US facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Batteries will be supplied from its nearby facility in Bibb County, which currently also provides EV batteries to the EQS SUV.
Based on those two factors, Some version of the EQE SUV could eventually qualify for federal tax credits under revised terms laid out by the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act. However, the pricing threshold for electric SUVs to qualify is $80,000 or less. We do not yet know where this electric SUV will land with its starting MSRP, but hopefully at least some trim level of it qualifies for credits since its being built on US soil.
Although we don’t have pricing for the AMG version either, we’d expect that US consumers opting for the performance model probably won’t qualify for tax credits at the federal level. They may still qualify for state exemptions however. We will be able to confirm however, once we get official pricing for both versions, which should come closer the the beginning of sales. stay tuned.
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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday said companies related to natural gas and oil will thrive under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a majority Republican Congress.
“We’re hearing about all sorts of Trump trades right now, and many of these things have made insane moves in less than three weeks, to the point where, actually, they’re feeling precarious to me,” he said. “If you want a sustainable Trump trade, I say bet on the natural gas ecosystem. This is an industry that already had a lot going for it, it just needed some cooperation from the federal government, which it is about to get.”
President Joe Biden’s administration is largely opposed to fossil fuels, Cramer said, and the federal government has worked to block pipelines and paused new liquified gas export authorizations. This dynamic, coupled with a weaker global economy, caused the sector to underperform for much of the year, he suggested. But Trump has shown more favor to the industry, and Cramer pointed out that he tapped prominent oil executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
Cramer recommended several stocks in the sector, including energy producers EQT and Coterra. The former is focused on natural gas and recently acquired peer Equitrans, raising the combined company’s valuation to an estimated $35 billion, Cramer noted. He added that Coterra is a good long-term holding and called the company “one of the shrewdest operators in the industry.”
He highlighted pipeline companies, including Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, and said he was especially bullish on Enbridge. Enbridge says it transports about 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., and Cramer claimed the Canadian outfit has “strategically located assets.”He also named Cheniere and Sempra, saying the former is the “best play” for liquified natural gas exports.
“Seasonally, this is a good time for the commodity,” he said, pointing out that natural gas itself has climbed since the election. “But I also think there’s some optimism about the future of the industry driving this move.”
Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y
Starting Price
Range
Lease Price
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition
$71,995
+300 miles
$599/mo
Tesla Model Y RWD
$44,990
320 miles
$299/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD
$47,990
308 miles
$399/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance
$51,490
279 miles
$599/mo
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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