Mercedes-Benz ELF explores ultra-fast and bidirectional EV charging technologies

Mercedes-Benz unveils the ELF project, merging ultra-fast, inductive, and bidirectional EV charging innovations into a single experimental platform

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the ELF project — an experimental charging vehicle designed as a mobile laboratory to explore the future of electric mobility. The name stands for Experimental-Lade-Fahrzeug, and it reflects the essence of the concept: not a production car, but a platform for testing technologies that could redefine how electric vehicles are charged.

At its core, ELF focuses on ultra-fast charging. Mercedes is examining the limits of two systems: MCS (Megawatt Charging System), originally developed for heavy-duty vehicles, and CCS (Combined Charging System), the standard for passenger cars. In testing, the vehicle reaches up to 900 kW of charging power, enough to replenish 100 kWh in about ten minutes. These findings will directly influence future production solutions.

Another key area is bidirectional charging — the ability to both draw and return energy to a home or the power grid. Mercedes plans to roll out this functionality in 2026, starting with the fully electric GLC and CLA models in Germany, France, and the UK. The MB.CHARGE Home system will integrate the vehicle, a compatible wallbox, and intelligent energy management, turning the car into a backup power source or solar storage device.

The ELF also explores inductive charging at 11 kW — wireless energy transfer through magnetic resonance — and an automatic conductive system that connects to a charging plate in the floor without driver involvement. Both are evaluated for ease of use and everyday reliability. A further focus is robotic charging, aimed at automating connections for high-current cables during fast charging sessions.

Development is closely linked to the work with Alpitronic, the European leader in high-power charging. Together, they created the HYC1000 prototype capable of transmitting up to 1,000 amps. This system will form the backbone of Mercedes-Benz’s branded charging parks, each providing up to 600 kW per port, with deployment starting in 2026.

The record-setting performance of the ELF is mirrored in the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, which achieved a peak charging power of 1,041 kW during megawatt testing — one of the highest figures in the industry. The insights from this achievement are shaping future cooling and power electronics for upcoming production vehicles.

With ELF, Mercedes-Benz is moving toward a future where charging is more than a technical step — it becomes part of an intelligent energy ecosystem. The project demonstrates how an electric vehicle can evolve into a mobile power unit, an active node in the renewable grid, and a symbol of progress on the road to sustainable mobility.