Mercedes-Benz adapter lets 800V EVs on 400V chargers, 100 kW
Mercedes-Benz launches adapter for 400-volt charging on 800-volt EVs
Mercedes-Benz adapter lets 800V EVs on 400V chargers, 100 kW
Mercedes-Benz launches an adapter so GLC and CLA Electric can charge on 400-volt chargers at up to 100 kW. New-car option only; improves charging flexibility.
2025-10-29T03:24:27+03:00
2025-10-29T03:24:27+03:00
2025-10-29T03:24:27+03:00
Mercedes-Benz has rolled out an unexpected fix for its latest electric models: an adapter that lets them charge from 400-volt networks previously incompatible with the brand’s 800-volt platform.The crux of the issue was simple. The new GLC Electric and CLA Electric support rapid charging only on 800-volt infrastructure delivering up to 330 kW, yet such stations remain scarce across Europe. With the adapter, owners can use far more common 400-volt chargers, though charging power drops to 100 kW.The device is already listed in Mercedes configurators in Germany and France at 654.5 euros. It meaningfully improves everyday usability, especially in countries with a limited HPC footprint such as Spain, and even enables access to compatible 400-volt Tesla Superchargers.There’s a catch: the adapter can be ordered only with a new car and can’t be fitted to vehicles already on the road. That will be particularly frustrating for early CLA Electric customers.The move may come across as a temporary workaround, but it does make Mercedes EVs more versatile and better suited to long-distance travel. Even so, observers note that, set against rivals like the BMW iX3, the charging experience could still weigh against Mercedes.
Mercedes-Benz adapter, 400-volt charging, 800-volt EVs, GLC Electric, CLA Electric, 100 kW charging, Tesla Superchargers, €654.5, Europe, new-car option, EV charging adapter, 400V to 800V
2025
Michael Powers
news
Mercedes-Benz launches adapter for 400-volt charging on 800-volt EVs
Mercedes-Benz launches an adapter so GLC and CLA Electric can charge on 400-volt chargers at up to 100 kW. New-car option only; improves charging flexibility.
Michael Powers, Editor
Mercedes-Benz has rolled out an unexpected fix for its latest electric models: an adapter that lets them charge from 400-volt networks previously incompatible with the brand’s 800-volt platform.
The crux of the issue was simple. The new GLC Electric and CLA Electric support rapid charging only on 800-volt infrastructure delivering up to 330 kW, yet such stations remain scarce across Europe. With the adapter, owners can use far more common 400-volt chargers, though charging power drops to 100 kW.
The device is already listed in Mercedes configurators in Germany and France at 654.5 euros. It meaningfully improves everyday usability, especially in countries with a limited HPC footprint such as Spain, and even enables access to compatible 400-volt Tesla Superchargers.
There’s a catch: the adapter can be ordered only with a new car and can’t be fitted to vehicles already on the road. That will be particularly frustrating for early CLA Electric customers.
The move may come across as a temporary workaround, but it does make Mercedes EVs more versatile and better suited to long-distance travel. Even so, observers note that, set against rivals like the BMW iX3, the charging experience could still weigh against Mercedes.
