When the third-generation 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA was unveiled earlier this year with an electric powertrain, it looked like a promising new entrant in the EV segment for the German automaker. The CLA is the first Mercedes EV to utilize an 800-volt architecture, allowing for charging speeds of up to 320 kW. Slow charging speeds are one factor that continues to limit EV adoption, and higher-voltage systems permit more rapid energy delivery. But in the case of the 2026 CLA, it appears the upgrade to an 800-volt system may actually hold the electric sedan back.