Mercedes-Benz’s electric concept car offers fast charging and a range that surpasses Tesla’s

Mercedes Benz has unveil Its “near production” concept, the CLA Class EV, features an ultra-long range and fast charging via an 800V architecture. The four-door sedan is the first in the company’s line of Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) EVs, which will include shooting brakes and a pair of SUVs. Although it was unveiled as a concept at the IAA Mobility motor show in Munich, the CLA-Class is scheduled to go into production as a true electric car in late 2024.

The MMA is designed for the automaker’s entry-level CLA class vehicles as an all-new “electric-first” design. The concept is roughly the same size as the company’s current CLA sedan and is 185 inches long and has a smooth, egg-like shape designed to move through the air as cleanly as possible (the hood is longer than other electric cars, as Mercedes might offer). With ICE engines too). It also features a number of model car details (weird wheels, LED lighting, etc.) that likely wouldn’t make the final cut.

The CLA-Class is not about brute power compared to other Mercedes-Benz electric cars (performance figures were not shared), focusing instead on efficiency and charging speeds. To that end, it uses an 800V architecture and a single 235-hp rear-mounted motor borrowed from the Vision EQXX concept (with “near-zero percent” rare earth materials). It also has a new heat pump to keep the batteries (and passengers) warm in the winter, when cold air can severely impact an electric car’s range, along with a two-speed transmission.

With all that said, the CLA Concept can achieve 466 miles of WLPT range (about 400 EPA miles) – excellent efficiency of about 150 mpg. It will also allow drivers to add about 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Mercedes didn’t specify the size of the battery, but it will likely be less than 100 kWh. This efficiency is also aided by a battery design with silicon oxide anodes to improve energy density. The company will also offer a less efficient, reduced kWh lithium iron phosphate option at a lower cost.

The interior contains a lot of typical car fluff that will likely never see the light of day, including a water-cooled processor on the floor, silver leather seats, a drilled sunroof, and a dashboard-level “superscreen” with few physical controls. However, the production version will likely have some design touches in line with other Mercedes-Benz EQ electric models and a relatively luxurious interior.

Another feature set to appear in the electric CLA production model is Level 3 automated driving. It won’t be available at launch, but the electric car will have all the sensors required to enable the feature on the road via over-the-air (OTA) updates. More details are scheduled to arrive in the coming months, such as battery size, ultimate range, charging numbers, and most importantly, price. But if Mercedes can stick to its word, the CLA could put up a good fight against Tesla’s electric cars.