Why is Mercedes putting a gearbox in an electric car?
Mercedes-Benz has shown its next-generation EV powertrain: an 800V architecture, the in-house EDU 2.0 with a two-speed gearbox, its own cells and a solid-state EQS that covered 1,205 km.
Most electric cars have a single gear. Mercedes-Benz is taking a different path: on 27 October 2026 it presented its next-generation powertrain technology, including an in-house electric drive with a two-speed gearbox, plus plans for cheaper batteries and for solid-state cells.
The 800V architecture moves up to the E-Class and S-Class
The modular 800V electric architecture that debuted on the CLA will scale up to larger models, including the E-Class and S-Class. Mercedes says it plans more than 40 new models by the end of 2027, with the shared platform as the basis for efficiency and fast charging.
EDU 2.0: in-house motor, two gears
The EDU 2.0 drive unit is designed and built by Mercedes. It pairs a two-speed transmission with a dog clutch and a silicon carbide (SiC) inverter. First gear helps acceleration and towing; second keeps motor speed down at high motorway speeds, where EVs lose the most range.
Own cells and solid-state
On batteries, Mercedes is developing its own cobalt-free LNMO cells to bring costs down. Longer term, it is working with Factorial on solid-state batteries: a test EQS drove 1,205 km from Stuttgart to Malmö without recharging. The company also has a partnership with ProLogium on the same technology.
What it means for drivers
In short, Mercedes is tackling the two big issues of premium EVs: motorway range and battery cost. The two-speed gearbox should matter most on long, fast trips. LNMO cells could enable more affordable versions, while solid-state is still a promise: the 1,205 km run is impressive, but there is no date yet for a production model.
