Mercedes Automates Home Charging
Mercedes is introducing two new charging services in Germany: MB.CHARGE Home Dynamic and MB.CHARGE Home Intelligent. Both automatically shift charging to time slots that offer low electricity prices and the highest possible share of renewable energy.
Drivers simply enter their desired state of charge and planned departure time in the Mercedes-Benz app. The system then distributes charging across that time window. Ideally, the result is: a fully charged car on time → lower costs and better use of wind and solar power.
Home Dynamic and Home Intelligent Compared
| Feature | Home Dynamic | Home Intelligent |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity plan | Existing plan remains in place | Switch to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent renewable electricity plan required |
| Optimization | Based on day-ahead prices | Automatic selection of suitable charging times |
| Reward | No separate bonus payment | Currently 10 cents per intelligently charged kWh |
| Smart meter | Not listed as an additional requirement | Required |
| Target group | Primarily users with a dynamic electricity plan | Users who want to combine an electricity plan with charging optimization |
MB.CHARGE Home Dynamic Uses the Existing Electricity Plan
Home Dynamic is aimed particularly at households that already use a dynamic electricity plan. The service takes day-ahead market prices into account and schedules charging during low-cost hours wherever possible.
Switching energy suppliers is not necessary. However, the financial impact depends heavily on the existing plan. Shifting charging times can directly reduce the electricity bill only if fluctuating wholesale electricity prices are actually passed on to the household.
Home Intelligent Pays Back 10 Cents per kWh
Home Intelligent includes an electricity contract from The Mobility House Energy. The electricity price itself is fixed, while Mercedes currently rewards intelligently scheduled charging with 10 cents per kWh. The credit is automatically deducted from the monthly electricity bill.
| Energy intelligently charged per month | Monthly credit | Annual credit |
|---|---|---|
| 300 kWh | €30 | €360 |
| 500 kWh | €50 | €600 |
These figures show the theoretical potential of the currently advertised bonus. Whether the plan is worthwhile overall also depends on the base charge, unit price, annual mileage and proportion of charging done at home.
The bonus is attractive, but comparing electricity plans remains essential.
The first 1,000 Home Intelligent customers are also set to receive €80 in credit for public charging through MB.CHARGE Public.
Technical Requirements
Both services require a compatible Mercedes model and a suitable AC wallbox. Mercedes lists its own AC Wallbox and the Flexible Charging System Pro among the supported options. Wallboxes that use ISO 15118 to handle features such as Plug & Charge with the vehicle will not be supported at launch.
Home Intelligent additionally requires a smart meter, a switch to the designated electricity plan and consent to data transfers between Mercedes and the energy provider. This initially makes the service less flexible than Home Dynamic, but it offers a directly quantifiable reward in return.
Which Mercedes Models Are Compatible?
At launch, Mercedes supports models including the updated EQS, GLA, GLB, GLC and VLE, the electric C-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé. The electric Mercedes CLA and CLA Shooting Brake are also listed.
Selected plug-in hybrids can also participate, provided they have at least MB.OS 0.7 installed. According to Mercedes, these include current generations of the C-Class, GLE and S-Class. More vehicles are expected to follow gradually.
The integration of new electric vehicle platforms is particularly relevant. Models such as the technically updated Mercedes EQS 450+ combine larger batteries and high charging rates with increasingly connected charging management.
Initially Available Only in Germany
The two services are initially launching in the German market. No corresponding terms have been announced for Austria or Switzerland, where electricity plans, smart meter rollouts and regulatory requirements can differ significantly.
For Mercedes drivers in Germany who charge regularly, the 10-cent-per-kWh bonus could be particularly appealing. Home Dynamic, by contrast, is the more flexible option for households that want to keep their existing dynamic electricity plan and simply automate charging schedules.
