ABB E-mobility and MAN Truck & Bus marked the debut of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) today, with Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder in attendance. The MAN eTruck was charged with over 700 kW and 1,000 A at an MCS charging station provided by ABB E-mobility. Dr. Markus Söder stated, “Bavaria is progressing towards future mobility: today, we officially launched the first megawatt charging station for electric trucks at MAN in Munich. This represents cutting-edge ecological and economical e-mobility that is being pioneered in Bavaria. We must empower our domestic industry to compete effectively. Innovation and technology are key to securing our future.” The launch of megawatt charging signifies an essential step in transitioning to climate-friendly transportation in the commercial vehicle sector and the successful electrification of buses and trucks. Electric trucks, especially for national and international long-haul transport or during loading and unloading, will require rapid MCS charging during legally mandated driving breaks. This new technology will complement existing solutions, as depot charging with lower capacities will remain vital in the future.
The two companies showcased at MAN’s development center in Munich that MCS charging is already operational today. ABB E-mobility installed one of Germany’s first megawatt charging points there. “With MCS, we are making sustainable long-distance transport for trucks and buses a reality in the near future. Today’s demonstration proves that. While we’re still working with a prototype, we’ve successfully doubled both the amperage and charging capacity within just a few years through the new MCS standard. To achieve a successful energy transition in transportation, we need solutions that are sustainable, dependable, and cost-effective. This requires integrated thinking and collaboration. Today’s demonstration is a testament to the strong partnership between MAN and ABB E-mobility and the entire industry,” said Michael Halbherr, CEO of ABB E-mobility.
Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure during the MCS launch: “Our target is to establish 30,000 MCS charging points across Europe by 2030, with around 4,000 located in Germany. Today we operationalized one of the first charging points. Time is of the essence for this setup. Electric trucks are ready, and megawatt charging is functional. We now need decisive action from politicians to build customer trust in electrification. It’s imperative that we quickly develop and expand the infrastructure.”
The newly introduced MCS standard can technically support charging capacities up to 3.75 MW at 3,000 amperes (A). Today, ABB E-mobility and MAN demonstrated over 700 kW charging power using prototype technology. Upon finalization of the MCS standard, charging capacities exceeding one megawatt will be feasible, significantly improving charging times. In comparison, current CCS standard (Combined Charging System) stations can serve both cars and commercial vehicles with a maximum capacity of 400 kW at 500 A. The international standardization process for the Megawatt Charging System is anticipated to conclude this year, with ABB E-mobility and MAN contributing their expertise through the international industry association CharIN.
It’s important to note that a substantial amount of energy is required for MCS charging. With such high electricity demands, the underlying infrastructure—grid connections and physical space requirements at locations like motorway service stations, parking lots, or truck stops—becomes critical. Expanding grid capacity and digitizing the grid is vital for the future supply of renewable energy and essential for establishing a robust charging infrastructure.
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