- The U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz CLA EV will be compatible with both 800V and 400V fast chargers.
- Initially, the company said the four-door EV would be restricted to 800V to maximize charging speeds.
- The U.S.-bound CLA will come with a 400V converter, allowing it to use the vast majority of DC fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers.
The Mercedes-Benz CLA electric sedan will be compatible with both 400-volt and 800-volt DC fast chargers when customer deliveries start in the United States early next year. This is a big deal, and it means the four-door compact EV will be able to use the vast majority of fast chargers in the U.S.
Last week, we reported that the U.S.-bound CLA will be restricted to 800V charging infrastructure to ensure it can achieve its maximum charging power of 320 kilowatts. However, this decision meant that owners of the German EV wouldn’t be able to use the largest DC fast charging network stateside, which is the Tesla Supercharger network. To make matters worse, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA EV comes with a Tesla-designed NACS charging port in the U.S., meaning owners couldn't use a vast majority of the 800V stalls it was designed for without an adapter for CCS1 connectors.
In an email to InsideEVs, the automaker explained that the U.S.-spec entry-level electric sedan will be fitted with a 400V converter, allowing it to use the majority of DC fast chargers in North America.
“Public charging point technology varies across the world, and the networks widely available in the U.S. and Europe are different,” a Mercedes-Benz USA spokesperson told InsideEVs over email. “We’re committed to offering our customers the best experience and believe fast charging at 800V gives the best and most convenient experience. After the initial limited delivery of cars late this year for demonstration of the CLA’s fast-charging abilities, 2026 U.S. customer orders from early next year will feature a converter and be capable of charging at 400V and faster 800V, meaning the largest number of U.S. charging points, currently over 140,000.”
When hooked up to an 800V DC fast charger, the CLA EV can accept up to 320 kW of power, enabling it to add up to 202 miles (325 kilometers) in 10 minutes of charging. Mercedes-Benz didn’t say how fast the CLA would be able to charge from a 400V stall, but the speeds will likely be slower. To achieve 320 kW from an 800V source, it needs 400 amps. From a 400V source, the amperage would need to be 800A, and there are very few, if any, DC fast chargers in the United States capable of delivering such high currents.
For reference, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is also based on an 800V architecture, can charge at over 200 kW from an 800V stall, topping up from 10% to 80% in roughly 20 minutes. However, when connected to a V3 Tesla Supercharger—the most common fast charger in the U.S. currently rated at a maximum of 500V—the maximum charging power of the Ioniq 5 goes down by about 100 kW.
All this being said, it’s good that Mercedes-Benz will fit the CLA EV with a 400V converter. This way, owners can use over 100,000 DC fast chargers in the United States, even though many of them won’t be capable of delivering the maximum 320 kW that the CLA can handle. When you’re on the road, a charger that can replenish the battery at any speed is better than a charger that doesn’t do anything.
Gallery: 2025 Mercedes CLA in Stuttgart
