Mercedes AMG CLA 45 arrives in Goodwood with 680 hp and three axial-flux motors

This is a car story, not a home energy story, but here's what happened. Mercedes unveiled a new electric performance car, the AMG CLA 45, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It uses three electric motors and puts out 680 horsepower, enough to hit 62 mph in 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph (167 mph with an optional package).

The car has a 94 kWh battery and is rated for about 420 miles of range on the European test cycle. What's notable for anyone thinking about EV charging speeds: it runs on an 800-volt electrical system, which allows charging at up to 330 kW. Mercedes says that can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes, or add roughly 270 km (about 170 miles) of range in just 10 minutes at a fast enough charger. The car also has a heat pump that preconditions the battery while driving so it's ready to accept a fast charge when you arrive at a charging stop.

None of this changes anything about home charging equipment or rebates. It's a preview of a high-performance sports sedan, not a mainstream family EV, and Mercedes hasn't announced pricing. The relevant takeaway for homeowners is mostly about where EV charging technology is headed: faster 800-volt architecture and smarter battery preconditioning are becoming more common, which could eventually show up in more affordable models too.