New Mercedes CLA breaks EV 24-hour distance record

Mercedes has set a new record for the distance travelled by an electric car with the new, third-generation CLA.

As reported by Move Electric's sister title Autocar, a prototype of the new saloon covered 2309.6 miles within a 24-hour period at the Nardò test track in Italy.

This surpasses the 24-hour distance of 2128.2 miles set by the Porsche Taycan on the same 7.9-mile banked oval in 2019.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) platform, the CLA is the first of four new compact electric models the German car maker plans to launch by the end of 2026. Successor models to the CLA Shooting Brake, EQA and EQB are also in the pipeline.

All four models feature a newly developed 800V electric architecture – the first of its kind to be used by a series-production Mercedes-Benz – in combination with new-generation electric motors, heat pumps and the MB:OS operating system.  

The CLA prototype used for the record attempt was taken from a fleet of production-based engineering mules already undergoing durability testing ahead of the model's planned launch early next year. It ran alongside a back-up prototype. Both cars featured a driver and front passenger as well as data loggers and other test equipment.

Key to the record was a clever charging strategy, dubbed “plug and dash”, which was developed to maximise driving time. Rather than dipping well into the energy reserves on long periods of driving before recharging, Mercedes-Benz opted for shorter driving stints and frequent charging stops.

The CLA prototype underwent a total of 40 recharges during the 24-hour attempt, each around 10 minutes in duration. 

Mercedes-Benz has yet to reveal the charging capacity of its upcoming electric model, but it has previously hinted it will be capable of accepting charge at around 250kW, with an additional 50kW boost function allowing it to reach 300kW for short periods. This will enable a 249-mile top up in just 15 minutes.

The CLA used in the record attempt was a rear-wheel-drive model featuring a single rear-mounted synchronous electric motor and two-speed transmission. Again, technical details have yet to be disclosed, though Mercedes-Benz is claimed to be developing the new saloon with drivetrains offering between 202bhp and up to 537bhp in an AMG-branded dual-motor, four-wheel-drive performance model.