Mercedes-Benz showed ELF — an electric laboratory on wheels with a charging choice to suit every taste

Mercedes-Benz presented the mobile charging station ELF — an experimental electric vehicle that can turn the charging process itself into a quick stop "for a minute". This is not just a van with a socket, but a full-fledged mobile laboratory with megawatt power.

What is known

The name ELF stands for "Experimental-Lade-Fahrzeug", which means "experimental charging vehicle". It is based on the Mercedes V-Class but has been transformed into a mobile charging station with five different ports, including the standard CCS and the promising Megawatt Charging System (MCS).

Mercedes claims that ELF can reach powers of up to 900 kW, adding 100 kWh of energy in about 10 minutes. And MCS, designed for electric trucks, operates in the megawatt range, where even a gas station seems slow.

The company is already using ELF to test future models, in particular, the Concept AMG GT XX, which after tests in Nardo showed a peak charging power of 1041 kW.

ELF has another focus — bidirectional charging. This means it can not only receive energy but also give it: power a home (V2H), the electrical grid (V2G), or other devices (V2L). Mercedes calculated that an average battery of 70-100 kWh can power an average home for 2-4 days.

The first production cars with such a feature will be the new electric CLA EQ and GLC EQ. In 2026, the bidirectional charging service will launch in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. After that — in the rest of the world.

Mercedes estimates that with "smart" energy management, owners will be able to save around 500 euros a year.

ELF is also testing contactless inductive charging and automated connection systems.

Source: Mercedes-Benz