- The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV will not be able to charge on 400-volt DC fast-chargers, which make up the majority of the United States’ charging network.
- The issue stems from the CLA’s 800-volt electrical architecture, which allows the car to charge at up to 320 kW but is only compatible with 800-volt chargers.
- Despite featuring the NACS-style charging port, the CLA EV will be restricted from Tesla’s Supercharger network, which currently only has 400-volt chargers.
When the third-generation 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA was unveiled earlier this year with an electric powertrain, it looked like a promising new entrant in the EV segment for the German automaker. The CLA is the first Mercedes EV to utilize an 800-volt architecture, allowing for charging speeds of up to 320 kW. Slow charging speeds are one factor that continues to limit EV adoption, and higher-voltage systems permit more rapid energy delivery. But in the case of the 2026 CLA, it appears the upgrade to an 800-volt system may actually hold the electric sedan back.The issue is straightforward: the 800-volt CLA EV is not compatible with 400-volt DC fast-chargers. This information initially surfaced via a tweet by an account with the handle “RoamingNorway” and was subsequently reported on by InsideEVs. The tweet mentioned a disclaimer on the Mercedes-Benz Germany website that the CLA can only use 800-volt DC fast-chargers and that the integrated navigation system will only show compatible stations on the map.We reached out to Mercedes, which confirmed that the CLA EV will not work on 400-volt DC fast-chargers. “While it is not possible to charge at 400-volt DC charging stations, the Mercedes-Benz navigation with Electric Intelligence leads to the compatible high-performance chargers, where charging with up to 320 kW is possible with the new CLA,” a Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson told Car and Driver.This will be a significant issue for CLA EV owners looking to utilize public charging networks, since the majority of DC fast-chargers in the United States are limited to 400 volts. Making the situation worse, the new CLA adopted the NACS-style charging port, which allows it to be charged on Tesla’s vast Supercharger network, which currently has no 800-volt chargers. This means the CLA EV will only be able to charge on the limited number of 800-volt DC fast-chargers available and will require an adapter to connect its NACS plug to a CCS-type charger. The CLA can still refill its battery via an AC charger, so the issue won’t stop owners from plugging in at home and charging overnight.While more 800-volt fast-chargers continue to be added to the United States’ charging networks, they will still likely represent a small portion of overall stations when the CLA EV arrives this fall. This will put Benz’s new electric sedan on its back foot, especially since other cars operating on at least 800 volts, such as the Lucid Air and Hyundai Ioniq 5, don’t suffer from the same issue. More on Upcoming Mercedes EVsCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: caranddriver.com
