The new all-electric Mercedes CLA Car Lease is live

Now live the all-electric Mercedes CLA car lease

Charging speed for your new electric car is paramount. The hurdle for some customers is the time it will take to charge their vehicle when out on the roads / public network. We have all heard some form of horror story - 1 hour charging sessions, broken chargers, older charge points with CHAdeMO functionality and expensive charging sessions which are more than a petrol or diesel equivalent.

While charging quality, and quantity, is something which has been more readily addressed by the Government through the LEVI scheme, which is effectively ensuring that local councils have sufficient funds to improve their networks, the heart and minds of the UK public needs to be won by bigger displays and clear intent from the various stakeholders which demonstrates improvement.

In a recent article from Transport and Energy a review of some recent research highlighted just how more motorists would consider the transition from petrol/diesel to BEV options if they could access a car with 250 miles of range and charging times of around 5 minutes.

Following on from the BYD announcement of “super-fast charging” 1000kW cars / charging sessions, the reseach from Startline’s May Used Car Tracker showed there was a clear receptiveness to customers feeling more confident if an EV could charge at the same speed of the combustion car and that a robust range would be a necessary element.

The analogy of the petrol station vs EV charging is always a difficult one, especially when many motorists are currently using the more convenient (and inextricably cheaper) home charging approach. There are times, particularly in cases of high-mileage drivers, when public charging needs to happen and cost / time are of the essence.

This is why car manufacturers need to be designing vehicles which meet the growing standards and expectations of the consumer demographic if we are to see a greater uptake in-line with the ZEV Mandate

So, when Mercedes announced that their latest update to the CLA would not only include an electric model (EQ technology) but it would also have some ground-breaking charging and efficiency features which would be instrumental to the brand becoming the leading EV product in the UK’s buoyant leasing market, the press started to pay attention.

Where we all have some intrigue is with their new MB Modular Architecture which is designed to operate on 800-volt chargers, ensuring speed and efficiency for the driver.

But what is an 800V architecture?

Effectively this is an EV which will accept around 600 to 900 volts in the voltage range. While a limited feature earlier in EV adoption, more and more vehicles are now built on this basis as they allow extended range, better efficiencies and quicker charging sessions.

In increasing the voltage the current needed is much lower, which means thinner cable and smaller electric components. This reduces battery and vehicle weight, along with a minimisation of heat loss. With a higher voltage battery you often benefit from the increased power to the motor, better acceleration and less energy loss (especially with regenerative braking).

In summary an 800V electric car will offer you / the driver:

•  Quicker charging times as the EV can accept greater power;
• Decrease in energy loss though heat and better recapture via the regenerative braking;
•  Less weight due to smaller components;
•  Increased costs due to the components and tech required; and
•  Limits on the charging session.

The key point to note with any 800V vehicle is that you need to check IF your car can charge at any charge point or if it is limited to 800V charge points. Now this is down to the manufacturer, with some installing additional DC Convertor hardware which allows the adjustment between 400 and 800 to occur.

However, not all brands will do this and for any potential CLA EV customers they need to carefully read the Mercedes guidelines:

“It is not currently possible to charge at 400V DC-Charging stations with the CLA. In this case the vehicle will inform the driver with a charging message in the head unit or the Mercedes-Benz app, recommending alternative chargers in proximity that are compatible.“ 

The underlying submission is that Mercedes are not going to be using the 400-volt convertor at the time of launch and this will ultimately means that customers need to be aware of the DC charging limitations.

They can do this by using the Mercedes app or they can download the Zap Map APP to add search filters which supports this requirement. The obligation really is on the dealership or leasing broker to identify this to you. As you will see on the e-car website we do offer an enhanced overview for example the Mercedes CLA EQ sport will operate at the below:

How quick does the CLA EV charge

However, this will not help you identify the 800V limitation, which is why you need to research the charging network. On the other hand, if public opinion is that EVs need to charge quicker, then manufacturers need to build cars in this way.

So long as the electricity network and charge point installers can keep up with the technology, then the research discussed above is effectively being listened to. Using the Mercedes as an example, if you connect to an ultra-rapid charger of 350kW then your car will peak at 320kW DC charging, allowing for a 10 - 80% session in just 22 minutes. Now consider you only need 30-40% additional charge to reach your destination, then you have a charging session of around 10 minutes. Will this mean a greater uptake of EV drivers? We certainly hope so!

In terms of performance, use the below as a guide:

•  250+  with a usable battery of 85 kWh this RWD offers 200 kW (268hp), top speeds of 130 mph and 0-62 times of 6.7 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 290 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 410 miles (on a full charge) - 350 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 9 hours and 15 min with the 320kW DC enabling 10-80% in 22 minutes. The saloon has no confirmed Bidirectional charging. It has a 167 mpg equivalent, 405L cargo volume and offers towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked). The heat pump is standard; and

• 350 4Matic with a usable battery of 85 kWh this AWD offers 260 kW (349hp), top speeds of 130 mph and 0-62 times of 4.9 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 285 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 395 miles (on a full charge) - 340 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 9 hours and 15 min with the 320kW DC enabling 10-80% in 22 minutes. The saloon has no confirmed Bidirectional charging. It has a 162 mpg equivalent, 405L cargo volume and offers towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 1800kg (braked). The heat pump is standard.

Need more help and advice on your new Mercedes CLA EQ for 2025?

Head to the Mercedes brand website to build your perfect option or just get in touch with our expert team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]

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