PLUGGED INTO AN ELECTRIC FUTURE

With the roll-out of its locally assembled flagship EQS, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia emphatically proves that the future is indeed electric

- MARK EVANS

A LITTLE OVER twenty years ago, the conversation surrounding cars revolved speed, or more simply put, “how fast does it go?”. But the notion of performance soon began to shift as the world began to pivot towards a more sustainable future. Speed gave way for mileage, and that eventually paved the way for established motoring brands to embrace electricity as a means to power their vehicles.

The evolution of Electric Vehicles (EVs) has been swift and fast. And with every advancing technology, the interest behind EVs continue to grow. In 2011, the global EV market was made up of 55,000 vehicles, but in just a decade, the segment has grown to 7 million. According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), the global electric car stock is slated to expand to almost 350 million vehicles by 2030.

In Malaysia, EV adoption is growing at a steady pace and no doubt the market will continue to expand, especially with brands like Mercedes-Benz, who are doing their part to drive the segment forward. This explains why we find ourselves in a Mercedes EQC, fast on our way to Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s assembly plant in Pekan, Pahang to witness the roll-out of the flagship electric sedan, the EQS.

PAVING THE WAY FORWARD FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY

Years ago, it was unfathomable to cover a distance between Kuala Lumpur and Pekan in an electric vehicle. But vehicles like the EQC has made that challenge a possibility with an impressive range of 437km on a single charge. However our electric-powered road trip is not a coincidence, because it’s part of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s program to celebrate the roll-out of the brand’s first locally-assembled EQS.