One of the biggest hurdles to widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption is the way these vehicles are charged. The biggest argument, especially to those who own internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, is that fueling up takes only five minutes or so, while the average fast charging times these days are around 30 minutes or less. That’s a valid point, and there have been automakers who have continued to reduce the time we spend on charging stations.
One of those automakers is Mercedes-Benz, which recently introduced new charging technology together with Italian technology firm Alpitronic to try to lure the ICE faithful into switching to an ultra-fast-charging EV. The technology debut comes alongside the introduction of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology, which, for simplicity’s sake, will be called the GLC EV in this article.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Mercedes-Benz and BYD.
Quick Charging System
Mercedes-Benz has had a rough time with its EV rollout. Whether it’s due to their controversial styling, bad timing, or both, let’s just say that it has cost their overall finances dearly. However, the tide is supposedly changing with the rollout of its new EVs that are capable of ultra-fast charging.
Megawatt System Output
The term “megawatt” has been the newest EV buzzword in recent months. That’s because automakers like Mercedes-Benz have been working on a megawatt charger together with Alpitronic. Megawatt is basically 1,000 kW of DC fast-charging output, and that’s nearly three times the maximum 350 kW DC that fast-charging EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can accept. Expect these Megawatt chargers, which are branded as HYC1000 by Alpitronic, in Mercedes charging parks in North America and Europe.
600 kW Individual Output
A huge disclaimer, however, is that these HYC1000 chargers don’t provide this output from a single charging point. Instead, HYC1000 actually provides power to several dispensers that have a maximum output of 600 kW DC. Depending on how many dispensers this charging stack will accommodate, the total output can’t and won’t exceed the 1,000 kW that HYC1000 can produce. An intelligent load management is built into the charging station stack. The goal of the creation of this system is better power efficiency and variable usability depending on the demand.
The Fast-Charging Mercedes EVs
An EQB being charged at a Mercedes charging station
It must be noted, however, that while these EV chargers are fast, you also need an EV that can accept this DC ultra-fast charging rate. Thankfully, two of Mercedes-Benz’s new EVs have an 800-volt architecture that allows for ultra-fast charging speeds.
CLA EV’s 200 Miles In 10 Minutes
The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology (let’s simplify it once again as the CLA EV) is one of the brand’s first EVs that ditches the EQ nomenclature (such as the EQS and EQE). By favoring traditional names, the new Mercedes-Benz EVs bring a level of familiarity that brand fans have always looked for. Don’t let its familiar name fool you, though, because it is the first Mercedes-Benz EV with an 800-volt architecture, which, when using the HYC1000 megawatt charger, can support up to 320 kW of DC fast charging output. That’s good for a 200-mile additional range in just 10 minutes.
However, the CLA EV has one grave mistake that Mercedes-Benz made. Whether it is due to cost-cutting reasons is unknown to us officially, but Mercedes-Benz thought it was a good idea for the CLA EV to not be compatible with more rudimentary 400-volt DC fast chargers. Yes, 400-volt chargers are being phased out, but they still represent the majority of DC fast chargers in the United States. If you can live with this compromise, sure, order a CLA EV for yourself today. If you want flexibility, wait until Spring 2026 for a CLA EV that’s compatible with both 400-volt and 800-volt DC fast chargers.
GLC EV’s 188 Miles In 10 Minutes
Even more advanced is the Mercedes-Benz GLC EV, which is the brand’s first EV to ride on its cutting-edge MB.EA platform. Though it uses a completely different architecture than the gas-powered GLC, its design is still identical, albeit with tweaks like a sleeker side profile and rear fascia. Of course, you wouldn’t miss its enormous silver-painted grille, which is already vying for the record of which German luxury automaker has the largest snout.
Anyway, with its 800-volt architecture, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC EV supports up to 330 kW of DC fast charging, in which a 10-minute charge can add 188 miles to its range. Thanks to a 94 kWh battery, Mercedes-Benz claims a maximum range of 400 miles. Equally impressive is its interior, whose 39.1-inch full-width display is wrapped in premium materials on the dash, doors, and center console.
A Chinese EV Charges Even Faster
Think this is impressive? Wait till you see what a mass-market Chinese EV brand can offer. Though the Germans have mostly caught up, BYD has pushed the boundaries of what fast charging really means.
A True Megawatt Experience
Whereas the Mercedes-Benz and Alpitronic megawatt charger sounds impressive, only a maximum of 600 kW can be provided at a single charging dispenser. BYD’s new Megawatt charging takes that to another level by offering true 1,000 kW DC ultra-fast charging. Using a 1,000-volt EV architecture, BYD’s new Flash Battery uses its proprietary lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry. Though LFP batteries don’t charge as fast as lithium-ion nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries, BYD’s breakthrough was in how they reduced their battery’s internal resistance by 50 percent, enabling the Flash Battery to accept a ton of power all at once.
The BYDs With Megawatt Charging
Two brand-new BYD models are now on sale in China with Megawatt charging, and those are the BYD Han L and Tang L. The Han L and Tang L are not replacements for their non-L counterparts, and instead are positioned as more premium alternatives with flagship levels of luxury and tech. Forget 200 miles in 10 minutes. How about 249 miles in just 5 minutes to the Tang L and Han L?
In their most efficient forms, the Tang L and Han L can both do up to 436 miles of range. However, these are rated through the CLTC test cycles, which are ultra-conservative versus the EPA. On the other end of the spectrum, the most powerful Tang L and Han L have 1,086 horsepower on tap, which is good for a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of just 3.9 seconds.