Mercedes-Benz ELF could shape the charging model for future robo taxis and traditional cabs
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Mercedes-Benz’s new ELF experimental charging vehicle could hold the key to how future robo taxis and electric black cabs power their journeys. The project, short for Experimental-Lade-Fahrzeug, explores new ways of charging that could make automated fleets faster to recharge, easier to operate and better connected to the energy grid.
The ELF research vehicle combines multiple charging methods, including ultra-fast, bidirectional, inductive and conductive systems. It effectively acts as a mobile test lab for what a seamless, intelligent and sustainable charging ecosystem could look like. While it is currently a research platform, its potential impact extends well beyond the passenger car market.
For urban taxi and private hire fleets, the idea of fast, automated and grid-aware charging aligns with how the industry is evolving. As cities move towards electric and autonomous transport, charging downtime and infrastructure limitations remain two of the biggest challenges. Mercedes-Benz’s work on ELF directly tackles both.
The ELF can use either the Combined Charging System (CCS) or the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), offering charge rates of up to 900 kW. That would allow a vehicle to take on 100 kWh of energy in ten minutes, cutting recharging time to almost match a petrol refuel. For a future robo taxi that operates continuously, such speed could make electric fleets economically viable.
This dual system is not limited to research. It is already feeding into production-ready developments such as the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, which has achieved over 1,000 kW charging capability in testing. These findings could be scaled for commercial vehicles and fleet-based operations, giving taxi and ride-hailing providers access to the same high-speed charging technology.
Perhaps the most transformative feature of ELF, however, is its bidirectional charging capability. The vehicle can both draw and supply energy, turning it into an active energy storage device. For operators of taxi ranks, depots or shared fleet hubs, this technology could open new ways to stabilise local power supply and reduce operating costs. A fleet of electric taxis parked overnight could feed electricity back into the grid or power nearby facilities, offsetting energy costs and supporting renewable energy use.
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed it will bring bidirectional charging services to the UK in 2026 through its MB.CHARGE Home system. This integrates the vehicle, a wallbox and energy management software to allow vehicles to charge cost-effectively or return power when required. Applied at fleet scale, the same concept could see electric taxis charge at low-cost times and discharge during peak demand.
For operators looking further ahead to automation, ELF’s research into inductive, conductive and robotic charging systems could be crucial. Inductive charging allows vehicles to top up wirelessly by parking over a charging plate embedded in the ground, while conductive systems use an automatic connector in the vehicle floor. Both remove the need for cables, reducing wear and enabling fully automated fleets to self-manage charging cycles.
Robot-assisted charging, also part of ELF’s research, takes this concept further. It enables precise and safe automated connections to high-power chargers, essential for driverless fleets that need to stay operational 24 hours a day without manual handling. For a future London or Manchester robo-taxi network, such systems could mean vehicles that operate continuously, returning to charge stations only briefly before rejoining service.
There is also a link to grid management. Bidirectional and virtual energy account systems explored under ELF could allow fleet operators to earn energy credits by returning stored power to the grid or charging at optimal times. Those credits could then be used for public or depot charging. In practice, a city’s electric taxi fleet could become a distributed energy asset, supporting local power stability while cutting running costs.
For traditional cab drivers, especially those operating purpose-built electric taxis, Mercedes-Benz’s technology points to more practical benefits. Faster charging would mean less time off the road, and automated systems could remove accessibility barriers at public charge points. With bidirectional charging, taxi ranks could also serve as micro energy hubs, powering lights or facilities during idle hours.
While ELF remains an experimental platform, it demonstrates how electric vehicle technology can merge with infrastructure design to support intensive-use fleets. If the findings reach production, they could define how robo taxis and electric cabs charge in the next decade – faster, cleaner and without the need for human interaction.
