Having misinterpret the electrical car market with its first vary of EQ fashions, Mercedes-Benz was purported to instrument a turnaround with its new CLA – a extra “regular” Mercedes EV twinned with its combustion-engined sibling. However that didn’t cease Stuttgart from capturing itself within the foot, because it seems.
A number of information retailers, together with Wards Auto and Autocarhave reported that the brand new compact sedan with its fancy new 800-volt electrical structure will solely have the ability to be charged at 800-volt DC quick charging stations. Because of this whereas it will likely be in a position to utilise the latest and quickest chargers – at as much as 320 kW, may we add – it received’t have the ability to entry the overwhelming majority of the chargers discovered globally (together with in Malaysia), which run at 400 volts.
That’s as a result of Mercedes inexplicably determined in opposition to becoming the CLA with a DC-to-DC voltage booster, such as you’ll discover in a Hyundai Ioniq or Kia ev mannequin with an identical 800-volt system – one thing that Autocar attributes to value causes. The corporate confirmed this unusual limitation by way of a message on its German configurator: “Please notice that charging at 400V charging stations isn’t potential, and for that reason, they aren’t proven within the navigation system.”
A spokesperson informed Autocar that “the share of 800V DC quick charging stations in all the charging community is consistently growing” and that drivers will solely be “directed to a suitable charging station” by way of the navigation system. “The replace of accessible and suitable charging stations works nearly in actual time,” they added.
Nonetheless, the transfer will undoubtedly depart CLA homeowners with treasured few locations to cost their vehicles – a complication made worse within the US by the truth that they are going to be restricted from utilizing Tesla’s 400-volt Supercharger community (the biggest within the nation), regardless of the automobile being fitted with a NACS connector. It was speculated that Norway could be the only real market to get the DC converter, however this has not been confirmed.
Mercedes has since backtracked on its determination, telling US publications akin to Automobile and Driver: “After the preliminary restricted supply of vehicles late this yr for demonstration of the CLA’s fast-charging talents, 2026 US buyer orders from early subsequent yr will characteristic a converter and be able to charging at 400V.” Nonetheless, it’s unclear if the converter will probably be supplied to different markets as properly.
The last-minute repair does nonetheless imply that hundreds of CLAs will probably be shipped with out the converter, provided that deliveries in Europe are as a consequence of kick off this summer time. Mercedes has additionally but to substantiate whether or not early-bird clients will get the part retrofitted in a while as soon as it turns into obtainable.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz CLA200L at Auto Shanghai 2025
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