Mercedes is giving existing EV customers a £250 discount on a Pod Point Solo 3S home charger, plus free installation costs.
The price cut from £999 to £749 for the untethered 7kWh wallbox follows the German carmaker’s decision to select Pod as its sole EV home charging partner.
Mercedes customers who do not want to pay up front for their home charger can pay a discounted monthly rate over three years. Alongside waiving the £99 installation fee, the monthly payment for the unit is reduced from £34 to £27, culminating in a £300 saving.
Pod has an exclusive EV tariff with energy provider EDF. Named ‘Pod Power by EDF’, the dual-rate tariff lets motorists charge for as little as 6.49p/kWh during a seven-hour overnight window, making it one of the most competitively priced home charging tariffs on the market.
By using the Pod Power by EDF tariff, Mercedes has worked out that it would cost £5.52 to charge a CLA with an 85kWh battery instead of £22.19 on a standard domestic tariff. This amounts to an annual saving of £345. Mercedes’ answer to the Volvo EX60 and the BMW iX3, the GLC, can save owners up to £382 in charging costs each year depending on battery size.
Pod Power by EDF is also compatible with Pod’s flexible Pod Reward smart-charging plan, which can earn up to £100 cash per year.
Drivers set a target charge in the Pod Home app, and Pod handles the scheduling automatically, optimising it to avoid peak hours and make the most of renewable energy. Cash earned from Pod Rewards can be withdrawn once customers have £10 in their user wallet.
After signing its exclusivity deal with the German premium manufacturer, Pod’s vice president of partnerships, Val Geary, commented: “Mercedes-Benz drivers know exactly what they want from their cars: performance, quality and a seamless experience. They should expect the same from their home charging.
“Pod has been working with Mercedes-Benz UK for a number of years, but we’re delighted to now become sole supplier, allowing us to support even more of their EV customers going forward with our award-winning charging solutions and customer service.”
As part of its electrification strategy, Mercedes is looking to blitz the EV market with 15 new models. Alongside the CLA and the GLC, these include the new C-Class, the CLA Shooting Brake, and the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe.
Its previous-generation of EVs, including the EQE and the EQS, are expected to be culled in favour of an all-electric E-Class and S-Class as part of Stuttgart’s plans.
