Mercedes-Benz has made an intriguing selection with the brand new CLA EV, which may solely make the most of 800-volt quick chargers. Though it’s outfitted with a Tesla-designed NACS charging port within the U.S., it will not be capable to entry any Superchargers.
The electrical CLA is being hailed as a major addition to the EV market, boasting spectacular effectivity and the power to cost at as much as 320 kilowatts due to its 800-volt structure—consider it as a smaller, extra accessible model of the Lucid Air. Nonetheless, a serious limitation arises: the CLA can not use 400V DC chargers.
This revelation started with a tweet from an EV fanatic in Norway, RomingNorway, who shared a screenshot from Mercedes-Benz’s web site noting that the brand new CLA is appropriate solely with 800V DC quick chargers and that its navigation system will solely direct drivers to appropriate charging stations.
At first look, this may not appear detrimental, because the CLA’s spectacular charging speeds require an 800V stall. The problem lies in the truth that most quick chargers within the U.S. are restricted to round 400V. Consequently, the CLA will solely be capable to recharge at a choose few DC quick chargers, undermining the technological developments of the automobile.
Whereas the CLA boasts speedy charging capabilities, its practicality shall be challenged if appropriate charging choices are unavailable, making street journeys troublesome for homeowners. To verify this unusual limitation, contact was made with a number of representatives from Mercedes-Benz in each the U.S. and Europe, they usually affirmed the CLA EV’s incapacity to make the most of 400V DC chargers.
A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said that the corporate has opted solely for 800-volt charging expertise, making certain no compromises in charging efficiency. Likewise, a consultant from Mercedes-Benz USA emphasised that whereas 400V DC charging stations are usually not an choice, the CLA’s navigation will information customers to appropriate high-performance chargers.
Nonetheless, the very fact stays that the CLA will arrive within the U.S. with a NACS port that basically presents no charging choices, because the Supercharger community, the biggest within the nation, doesn’t help 800V charging. House owners will want a CCS1 adapter to make the most of stations that may present 800V, which usually include CCS1 plugs.
This example is a {hardware} limitation that can’t be solved by means of software program updates. Though EV charging infrastructure is enhancing within the U.S., with networks like Electrify America already reaching 1,000V, this resolution will prohibit fast-charging choices for the CLA underneath varied circumstances, probably diminishing the possession expertise.
Mercedes-Benz has included each a NACS and J1772 port underneath the identical flap for charging. Whereas this can be a considerate design, the NACS port can not facilitate AC charging for the CLA, successfully rendering many Tesla Vacation spot Chargers unusable. House owners should depend on J1772 chargers for slower charging.
The automaker is betting on charging suppliers to boost their 800V installations, which is already starting to occur. Autos just like the Lucid Air, Lucid Gravity, Porsche Taycan, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV9 additionally help 800V and better architectures, prompting charging corporations to adapt to the rising variety of EVs able to dealing with increased voltages.
Nonetheless, not like these different autos, the CLA EV can not make use of older 400V charging stations. Whereas charging speeds could be slower, drivers of different EVs can nonetheless discover a solution to recharge in a bind—one thing the CLA EV doesn’t accommodate.
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