Mercedes-Benz EV Unlikely to Meet EV Subsidy Criteria

The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic

The National Institute of Environmental Research announced on Dec. 5 that the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4Matic has a maximum driving range of 171 kilometers at seven degrees Celsius below zero whereas the range is 309 kilometers at 25 degrees Celsius above zero. The company’s first pure electric vehicle (EV) in the South Korean market is unlikely to meet EV subsidy payment criteria and is likely to cause consumer inconvenience.

In general, EVs’ maximum driving ranges decrease with the outside temperature. However, the rate of decrease of the EQC 400 is exceptionally high. In the same temperature range, the range of the Hyundai Ioniq falls 29.3 percent and those of the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Niro fall 23.5 percent and 21.3 percent, respectively. That of the Tesla Model S falls just 15.3 percent.

Although Mercedes-Benz explained that the 44.7 percent decline is because the EQC 400 is heavy, consumers are still complaining about the range. In fact, the relatively shorter maximum driving range of the vehicle has been criticized since the debut of the vehicle.

At present, the South Korean government provides a subsidy of four million won to nine million won for each EV meeting 11 criteria, including an ordinary-temperature maximum driving range of at least 200 kilometers and a low-temperature maximum driving range equivalent to over 60 percent of the ordinary-temperature maximum driving range. The EQC 400 does not meet this criterion.

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