Mercedes’ new CLA might be on many buyer’s shortlists thanks to its remarkable range, but early signs suggest UK customers will face a significant problem: it won’t be able to use the majority of the country’s rapid public charging network.
That’s because the electric CLA – revealed in March and based on an 800-volt EV architecture – doesn’t come with a 400-volt DC converter as standard. Without it, the car simply won’t connect to most of the UK’s 14,000 rapid chargers, which largely operate on 400V tech.
While older EVs running on 400V systems are compatible across the board, newer 800V models like the CLA typically rely on a converter to ‘step down’ electricity from 400V chargers. In this case, Mercedes has opted not to include one – at least for the UK market.
A quick glance at the CLA’s online configurator confirms the issue. Under charging details, it states: “Please note that charging is not possible at 400-volt charging stations.” That statement effectively rules out the bulk of the country’s existing public DC infrastructure for CLA drivers.
The decision not to include a converter appears to be a cost-saving move. Priced from just over £45,000, the CLA is being pitched as a more accessible electric model in Mercedes’ line-up. But the compromise is a sharp one. Owners will need to rely on at-home charging or search out the relatively scarce number of 800V rapid chargers currently available in the UK.
Mercedes says it’s aware of the issue and is hoping that the speedy roll-out of new 800 volt charging units will mean that drivers will have an abundance of chargers to choose from. The company also points to the built-in navigation system, which can route drivers only to compatible charging stations – assuming, of course, you plan your trips entirely through the car’s interface.
To add to the frustration, buyers in Norway can spec the CLA with a 400V converter – meaning the hardware does exist, just not for right-hand drive markets like the UK. Whether Mercedes decides to bring that option across remains to be seen, but for now there’s no timeline or confirmation. Other brands that offer models with 800 volt architecture all currenty fit converters that allow them to charge from 400 volt units. These include Hyundai's IONIQ 5, the Kia EV6 and EV6, the Porsche Taycan and new Audi A6 and Q6 models.
New CLA isn't fitted with tech to allow it to rapid charge at the majority of UK charge hubs. Will that change before it arrives in the UK? 
