Mercedes launched a glance on the powertrain know-how of its upcoming electrical CLA, and it contains tons of neat EV tech and a few fascinating choices for battery know-how and what appears to be probably the most versatile charging system we’ve seen but.
We’ve already discovered a good quantity in regards to the CLA after first seeing the idea final yr, and Mercedes launched a couple of new specifics at present relating to its powertrain.
In line with earlier info we knew, the CLA is focusing on extraordinarily excessive effectivity of 12kWh/100km, which interprets to simply 193Wh/mi or 5.2mi/kWh. That’s extra environment friendly than the rest on the highway at present – 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 automobiles. The drive motor shall be 200kW on the rear axle, although all-wheel drive fashions shall be out there 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 practically 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 geared up with a selection of two totally different batteries, every with totally 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 larger than EPA numbers, so anticipate one thing within the high-300s in EPA parlance. This battery will add silicon oxide to the anode for larger vitality density, a know-how 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 know-how, with larger long-term sturdiness and less complicated sourcing of minerals (it makes use of no cobalt, whereas Mercedes says cobalt has been “lowered” 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 will add 300km (186mi) of vary in 10 minutes, and in addition says that the automotive could have a broad charging curve, which implies 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 fee.
This excessive charging fee allowed Mercedes to set a file touring 3,717km (2,309mi) in 24 hours on the Nardo check observe in Italy in a pre-production CLA. That’s a mean journey fee 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 as a consequence of Tesla’s chaotic CEO firing the entire supercharger group for little motive), 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 answer – it should simply put each CCS and NACS ports on the CLA, proper on high 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 objectives they set out, and we like that they’re providing quite a lot 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 fascinating, 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 simply decide one software, 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 automobile may be very totally 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” automotive, however who is aware of what which means anymore as of late. The bottom ICE CLA begins at round $44k at the moment, so lets see if they will hit that quantity.
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