- The Mercedes-Benz ELF integrates multiple charging systems to test future EV charging solutions.
- The ELF achieves charging power up to 900kW, adding about 100kWh in 10 minutes under test conditions.
- ELF’s bidirectional capability allows AC and DC energy transfer for Vehicle-to-Home, grid support, and portable power applications.
The future of plugging in just got personal.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new Experimental Charging Vehicle, affectionately dubbed “ELF”, a rolling lab that tests everything from megawatt charging to wireless power transfer.
A lab on wheels
The ELF (short for Experimental-Lade-Fahrzeug) is Mercedes-Benz’s testbed for next-generation charging tech. Rather than focusing only on range or battery size, ELF explores how charging itself can evolve: faster, smarter and greener.
Mercedes says the project combines multiple charging approaches, from ultra-fast megawatt connectors to bidirectional and inductive setups, into a single integrated platform. “ELF is more than a vehicle; it’s a symbol of a bold new era in charging,” the company noted in its release.
Dual-wielding fast charge
Under its skin, ELF carries both CCS and MCS charging systems. The CCS setup, familiar to most EV drivers, can pump in up to 900kW, good for roughly 100kWh in 10 minutes - that’s around 400km of range in the time it takes to grab a flat white.
Meanwhile, the heavy-duty MCS connector, usually reserved for trucks, lets engineers probe the upper thermal and electrical limits of current battery tech. Lessons learned are already filtering into future models like the Concept AMG GT XX, which recently achieved a blistering 1041kW peak during testing.
Beyond the plug
ELF isn’t just about speed. It’s also a prototype for bidirectional charging, allowing electricity to flow both ways - powering homes, feeding the grid, or running tools and appliances on the go. Mercedes claims a typical 70 to 100kWh battery could keep a household running for two to four days.
The car also trialles inductive and conductive underbody charging, as in park over a pad and power transfers automatically, cable-free. Combined with robot-assisted systems, it hints at a near future where EVs charge themselves while their owners do, too.
Mercedes seems to be using ELF to fast-track technologies for its next wave of EQ models and the expanding Mercedes-Benz Charging Network. The brand’s endgame? Turning every driveway, carpark and motorway rest stop into part of a seamless energy ecosystem - no plug wrestling required.
