Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe has ignited a charging-speed race by touting the fastest charging speed among EVs in the U.S. market. Attention is also focused on the gap with real-world use, as the record assumes ultra-high-output charging infrastructure.

On May 21 local time, EV outlet InsideEVs reported that the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 11 minutes when using a 600-kW DC fast charger.

It is seen as the fastest level among EVs currently sold in the United States. Most major EVs typically take the high teens to the low 20s in minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent. The Volvo EX60 takes about 16 minutes, the Porsche Taycan 18 minutes and the BMW iX3 21 minutes, while Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 is also cited as offering charging performance of around 20 minutes.

An 800-volt battery architecture is cited as the Mercedes-AMG GT's key strength. It delivers ultra-fast charging through a high-voltage-based design, a technology spreading rapidly in the high-performance EV market.

But Mercedes' 11-minute charging record is not achieved by the vehicle's performance alone. The company explained that the figure assumes connection to a 600-kW EV DC ultra-fast charger. Most fast chargers that U.S. consumers actually encounter are in the 250-kW to 400-kW range, meaning 600-kW infrastructure remains limited.

The industry sees the case as a sign that vehicle technology is starting to outpace the pace of charging-infrastructure development. In the United States, Tesla has recently been expanding 500-kW Supercharger V4 sites, while China is seen as already being a step ahead in building megawatt-class charging networks.

Some also say that in real-world use, the efficiency of drivable range actually secured matters in addition to charging time alone. For example, the Lucid Gravity can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 23 minutes in an about 400-kW charging environment and offers about 450 miles of driving range under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Even with the same charging time, perceived performance can differ depending on battery capacity and energy efficiency.

Comparison with the Tesla Model Y is also drawing attention. The Model Y is known to take about 27 minutes to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in real-world conditions. That is why some assessments say the Mercedes-AMG GT has achieved a big improvement in charging speed compared with mass-market EVs.

The market interprets the announcement as a sign that competition in the U.S. EV market is shifting from range to charging speed. It is also noted that automakers are continuing to compete in ultra-fast charging technology even amid a recent slowdown in global EV market growth and a pullback in investment.

The next point to watch is not vehicle technology competition, but how quickly 600-kW-class ultra-fast charging infrastructure can spread.