The EQC is therefore relatively compact. While Audi chose to steer its e-tron toward the “european full size SUV” gauge, 4761 mm in length position the EQC in the midsize segment. At least size-wise. In terms of pricing, Mercedes is going squarely against Audi and Jaguar.

The battery pack bolted under the GLC body eats into ground clearance over the entire wheelbase, but the lowest point is the rear motor, whose diameter is larger than the differential on a GLC. Mercedes insists on the fact that the EQC is not an all-terrain, off-road SUV. This is visually quite obvious when one looks closely at the dark mass hidden below the visual side skirts.

Mercedes has divided the battery pack in 4 modules of 72 cells located under the body, and two modules of 48 cells stacked under the rear seats, and crowned by power electronics. The pouch-type Lithium Ion cells come from a LG plant in Korea and are made to Mercedes specifications. In the near future, Mercedes will certify the LG Poland factory which supplies also Audi for the e-tron, while CATL is a second source for the chinese market.

Battery pack protection has received a lot of attention during the development phase. At the front, a thick protection rail is tasked to deflect any object lying on the pavement. On the sides, two layers of crumple zones are used to preserve the integrity of the precious cells in the event of a side impact.