The new Mercedes-Benz CLA could help take EV efficiency up a gear – here's why

The 'one-liter' car of the electric age, says the brains behind it

News By Leon Poultney published 18 November 2024

• Mercedes targets over 460 miles on a single charge
• Upcoming CLA could be most efficient EV on sale next year
• Impressive in-car tech also promised

Mercedes has revealed more information about its hotly-anticipated CLA model, which is due to go on sale next year sporting either a compact 1.5-liter petrol hybrid powertrain or two battery electric options.

Although we were treated to a pretty stunning concept at last year’s IAA Mobility show in Munich, complete with masses of infotainment real estate and the promise of a new Mercedes-Benz Operating System, the company has remained tight-lipped about further details.

That is until now, as the German marque has recently revealed that it will be among the most efficient EVs on the market when it goes on sale next year. The company is targeting long range battery-to-wheel efficiency of 93%, as well as an overall battery efficiency of 5.2 miles per kWh.

Currently, only the 2025 Lucid Air Pure has been able to hit those heady heights, with a proposed figure of 5 miles per kWh, while Tesla is making wild claims that its Cybercab will be capable of 5.5kWh per mile travelled.

Mercedes has taken learnings from its record-breaking VISION EQXX electric concept, which travelled 747 miles from Stuttgart, Germany to Silverstone, UK on a single charge. The German marque claims the CLA’s latest Electric Drive Unit (EDU 2.0) is heavily influenced by the hyper-miling concept vehicle.

The first car to ride on the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), the upcoming CLA will boast 800V electrical architecture as standard, with the ability to charge at speeds of up to 320kW from the appropriate outlet.

What’s more, it has been revealed that it will also be among the first EVs to sport both CCS and the Tesla-derived NACS charging ports under one flap. This will allow North American customers to take advantage of the Tesla Supercharger network.

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