Mercedes shows ultra‑fast EV charging tech and it could change electric vehicles forever
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 9:11 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Oct 13, 2025 at 9:11 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Molly Davidson
Mercedes is tired of people worrying that electric cars can’t go far enough.
So instead of stuffing in bigger and heavier batteries, they had a better idea: make charging way faster.
Like, finish-your-snack-and-go fast.
And if their new test car works the way they think it will, waiting around for your EV could soon be ancient history.
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The secret Mercedes EV charging tech
Mercedes built a wild science project on wheels called ELF, short for Experimental-Lade-Fahrzeug, or ‘Experimental Charging Vehicle.’
It’s not a new model you can buy – it’s a moving laboratory that helps Mercedes test how fast electric cars can safely charge without frying the cables.
ELF’s job is to experiment with different charging systems.
One is the MCS – a megawatt setup made for big trucks that can blast out up to 1,000 kilowatts of power.
The other is a supercharged CCS system for normal cars that can still hit 900 kilowatts – enough energy to add 100 kWh in about 10 minutes.
That’s roughly the time it takes to grab chips and a soda at a gas station.
The lessons from ELF helped Mercedes build the HYC1000.
A new kind of fast charger co-developed with Alpitronic.
It powered the AMG GT XX during its crazy record run – 25,000 miles in eight days – charging faster than any other EV on Earth.
And from 2026, Mercedes plans to install HYC1000 stations at its own charging parks.
Each strong enough to fill most EVs in just a few minutes instead of hours.
Why Mercedes says faster is smarter than bigger
Most car companies try to fix range anxiety by making batteries bigger.
That does work… but it also makes cars heavy, expensive, and slow to recharge.
That’s like carrying around a swimming pool just because you’re thirsty.
Their idea?
Keep the battery small but charge it super fast.
Smaller battery means a lighter car, lower price, and less waiting around while the grown-ups complain about electricity bills.
“It’s not about how far you go – it’s about how fast you can get going again,” said Mercedes engineer Malte Sievers, summing it all up.
If Mercedes pulls this EV charging tech off, the next time you stop to grab fries, your car could already be ready to roll.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
