Mercedes-Benz ELF.

But local CO2-emission-free driving alone is not enough. Charging must also be efficient, intelligent and sustainable. That is why Mercedes Benz is consistently working on innovative charging solutions for the home, workplace and public spaces – and actively shaping the future of charging. In 2021, the company was one of the first car manufacturers to launch Plug & Charge, a function that made fast charging easier than ever before. With its own MB.CHARGE Public¹ charging service, which is fully integrated into the vehicle, Mercedes Benz set standards for connected public charging in 2019. An integral part of this charging service is Green Charging^[2]Green Charging uses Energy Attribute Certificates to ensure that an equivalent amount of electricity from renewable energy sources is fed into the power grid for charging processes in “MB.CHARGE Public”, if no electricity from renewable energy sources is provided. For this purpose, high-quality green electricity certificates are used, which verifiably certify the origin of the energy and serve as a kind of birth certificate for electricity from renewable energies.
in Europe, Canada and the U.S., which specifically promotes the use of electricity from renewable energies.

ELF is more than a vehicle – it’s a symbol of a bold new era in charging. With the Experimental Charging Vehicle, Mercedes Benz demonstrates what happens when visionary technology, courageous ideas and passionate teamwork come together. This mobile charging lab unites ultra-fast, bidirectional, solar, inductive and conductive charging in a holistic concept that doesn’t just test the limits of what’s possible – it redefines them. Behind ELF stands an interdisciplinary team driven by dedication and innovation, working to make electric mobility more convenient, efficient, and sustainable. With ELF, Mercedes Benz makes an emotional statement for progress - underlining its role as a pioneer in mobility and setting milestones in the charging of electric vehicles.

Fast charging is the key to the everyday usability of electric mobility. With the ELF experimental vehicle, Mercedes Benz is exploring the limits of what is technically feasible – both in the vehicle and at the charging station. To this end, the experimental vehicle is equipped with two fast charging systems that cover different areas of application:

• MCS connector (Megawatt Charging System)
  Originally developed for heavy-duty transport, this system allows charging capacities in the megawatt range. In the ELF, MCS serves as a research tool for testing the thermal resilience and performance limits of high-voltage batteries, power electronics, charging cables and other components under extreme conditions. The findings are being incorporated into the development of long-distance vehicles and fleet solutions with short downtimes.
• CCS connector (Combined Charging System)
  CCS is used as the standard for passenger cars to test near-series components such as cables, connectors, cooling and charge control under everyday conditions. Mercedes-Benz is testing the technical limits of CCS in order to create the conditions for even higher charging capacities. The ELF can achieve a charging capacity of up to 900 kW. This means that 100 kWh can be charged in 10 minutes. The vehicle simulates typical charging scenarios that occur in everyday customer use, such as at fast charging stations along motorways or in urban areas. The components used, such as the battery, charging control and CCS hardware, are already close to series production and will be incorporated into future Mercedes Benz models.

With the combination of MCS and CCS, Mercedes Benz is pursuing a dual research approach: on the one hand, new technological horizons are being explored and the technology of the future is being developed. On the other hand, the series production readiness of existing systems and in turn, the charging experience of today is being improved. One example of how the knowledge gained is being directly incorporated into the development of future series models is the CONCEPT AMG GT XX technology programme. The concept vehicle sets new standards in the field of high-performance charging. It can recharge enough energy for a range of around 400 kilometres (WLTP) within five minutes. The CONCEPT AMG GT XX achieves a very high average charging power of 850 kW at 1,000 amps over a large range of the charging curve. Following its record-breaking drive with a legendary finish in Nardò, the CONCEPT AMG GT XX achieved a peak charging power of 1,041 kW during megawatt charging.

Mercedes Benz teamed up with Alpitronic, the European market leader in high-power charging, to develop a prototype high-performance charging station for the CONCEPT AMG GT XX's record-breaking drive. For the first time, it can transmit currents of up to 1,000 amps via a CCS cable – twice as much as was previously possible. This was enabled by using an MCS charging station originally designed for trucks, in which the truck cable was replaced by a CCS cable. The cooling capacity in the plug and cable was retained, allowing for higher power outputs. This charging system was not developed separately but together with the vehicle. On a test bench in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, the development team simulated real-life charging scenarios in which vehicle components and charging station were tested and validated together. This demonstrates the holistic development approach taken by Mercedes Benz.

The findings from the prototype charging station are being directly incorporated into the development of a new generation of high-performance fast chargers, which are to be used at Mercedes Benz charging parks. Customers will therefore benefit from extremely fast charging processes, with charging times that differ only minimally from conventional refuelling processes. Shorter charging times mean greater flexibility when travelling and a significant increase in convenience in everyday life. Mercedes Benz is thus underlining its innovative strength and aims to set new standards for public charging in the future.

Bidirectional charging is more than just a technological option – it is a strategic lever for the energy transition. With the ELF, Mercedes Benz is exploring the full potential of this key technology: not only absorbing electricity, but also feeding it into the home (Vehicle-to-Home; V2H), into the grid (Vehicle-to-Grid; V2G) or directly to electrical devices (Vehicle-to-Load; V2L). This allows electric vehicles to become an active part of a sustainable energy system. In the future, they will offer customers greater independence and potential cost savings. The ELF tests bidirectional charging in real-world scenarios. The findings are fed directly into the series development of future models.

The ELF is capable of both AC and DC bidirectional charging:

• AC (alternating current) enables the power supply of electrical devices (V2L) and the return of energy via a bidirectional AC wallbox directly into the home network – for applications such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) or Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) or into the public power grid (V2G). An advantage is that the infrastructure is more cost-effective. A disadvantage is that standardisation becomes more complex as the vehicle must meet the requirements of different power grids.
• DC (direct current) allows for direct energy recovery with a bidirectional DC wallbox into the public power grid (V2G) and directly into the home or building network (V2H; V2B), depending on the infrastructure used. An advantage is high efficiency, especially when using a hybrid inverter for bidirectional charging. With photovoltaics and home storage, it is easier to meet grid requirements. A possible disadvantage could be the slightly higher investment costs for the charging infrastructure.

Mercedes Benz brings not only research but also experience to the table, as demonstrated by the successful introduction of bidirectional charging in Japan with the CHAdeMO standard. Mercedes Benz is also preparing specific customer offers for the CCS standard. The new all-electric CLA with EQ Technology and the new GLC with EQ Technology are already technically equipped for bidirectional charging with a compatible DC wallbox. In the course of 2026, Mercedes Benz will launch its first services for bidirectional charging in Germany, France and the UK. Other markets will follow. The MB.CHARGE Home offer combines the vehicle, bidirectional wallbox, green electricity tariff and energy market access. The aim is to reduce household costs and support grid stability. Thanks to intelligent control and an app, vehicles can not only charge in a cost-optimised manner but also feed energy back into the home network or power grid. This turns electric cars into active energy storage devices and contributes to the energy transition.

¹ In order to use the MB.CHARGE Public Digital Extra, a separate customer-specific charging contract with a selected third-party provider is required.