Mercedes launched a glance on the powertrain expertise of its upcoming electrical CLA, and it consists of tons of neat EV tech and a few attention-grabbing choices for battery expertise and what appears to be essentially the most versatile charging system we’ve seen but.
We’ve already discovered a good quantity concerning the CLA after first seeing the idea final yr, and Mercedes launched just a few new specifics in the present day concerning its powertrain.
Consistent with earlier data we knew, the CLA is focusing on extraordinarily excessive effectivity of 12kWh/100km, which interprets to only 193Wh/mi or 5.2mi/kWh. That’s extra environment friendly than anything on the street in the present day – with Lucid’s Air Pure reaching 200Wh/mi, or 5mi/kWh. And simply lower than what Tesla is claiming the Cybercab shall be able to, at 5.5kWh/mi.
That is due to Mercedes’ new compact EDU 2.0 electrical motor, which is a part of its new Mercedes Modular Structure (MMA) which can underpin its upcoming electrical autos. The drive motor shall be 200kW on the rear axle, although all-wheel drive fashions shall be accessible with an extra 80kW unit on the entrance axle. A two-speed transmission will guarantee effectivity at excessive speeds and low.
For extra effectivity in chilly climate, the CLA will use an air-to-air warmth pump which is ready to seize warmth from the motor, battery, and ambient air to warmth the cabin. Whereas batteries and motors don’t make almost as a lot waste warmth as inefficient ICE engines, it’s nonetheless good to have the ability to channel warmth to wherever you want it.
Mercedes says that the CLA will come outfitted with a selection of two completely different batteries, every with completely different chemistries.
The bigger 85kWh mannequin shall be able to an unnecessarily-high 750km (466mi) of WLTP vary – although WLTP numbers are at all times increased than EPA numbers, so count on one thing within the high-300s in EPA parlance. This battery will add silicon oxide to the anode for increased vitality density, a expertise that has been pioneered by Sila Nanotechnologies, an organization which Mercedes is a lead investor in.
The smaller battery shall be 58kWh, and can use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. LFP is a less expensive however decrease vitality density expertise, with increased long-term sturdiness and easier sourcing of minerals (it makes use of no cobalt, whereas Mercedes says cobalt has been “diminished” within the bigger batteries). Nevertheless, LFP usually has slower quick charging and chilly climate efficiency.
On charging: the “premium” battery could have an 800V configuration able to as much as 320kW charging speeds. Mercedes says this may add 300km (186mi) of vary in 10 minutes, and in addition says that the automobile could have a broad charging curve, which suggests you’ll get excessive cost charges even when the battery isn’t near empty. It didn’t specify if the smaller LFP battery could have the identical cost charge.
This excessive charging charge allowed Mercedes to set a report touring 3,717km (2,309mi) in 24 hours on the Nardo check observe in Italy in a pre-production CLA. That’s a median journey charge of 96mph – together with time spent charging.
We additionally discovered one thing about Mercedes’ NACS adoption plans. Whereas nearly everybody has dedicated to transitioning automobiles to NACS, it has taken longer than anticipated (largely on account of Tesla’s chaotic CEO firing the entire supercharger crew for little cause), and few automobiles have native NACS inlets but. Some manufacturers can already cost at Superchargers with adapters, however Mercedes continues to be on Tesla’s “coming quickly” web page.
On account of delays in onbaording automakers, some appear to have pulled again on their plans, pushing NACS ports to later mannequin years. However Mercedes has a brand new and distinctive resolution – it can simply put each CCS and NACS ports on the CLA, proper on prime of one another.
Mercedes says “sooner or later, new entry-level fashions shall be able to bidirectional charging,” however isn’t clear whether or not this mannequin shall be able to that.
Electrek’s Take
Whereas that is in need of a full launch of specs, we’re excited by what we see right here. Mercedes appears to substantiate that they’re assembly the effectivity targets they set out, and we like that they’re providing a wide range of choices and making the most of some newer EV tech like 800V charging infrastructure.
The inclusion of each NACS and CCS may be very attention-grabbing, once more providing choices to house owners through the transition. That appears to be the large message from Mercedes right here – we’re not going to only decide one instrument, we’re going to make use of all of them.
However pricing and availability are clearly huge questions, as is design.
The idea appears incredible, however ideas at all times change on their approach into manufacturing. The form of the camouflaged check car may be very completely different – however appears to have some shrouding on the back and front to cover its form, so we’ll have to attend till we see this factor unveiled for extra.
And as for pricing – Mercedes says the CLA shall be an “entry-level” automobile, however who is aware of what which means anymore as of late. The bottom ICE CLA begins at round $44k at present, so lets see if they will hit that quantity.
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