The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is a new charging standard that enables super-fast charging for heavy-duty electric vehicles (up to 3.75 MW, compared to a maximum of 400 kW with CCS). The international standardization process is expected to be completed this year, and companies are already close to commercial implementation. Electric truck expert Rustam Kocher told Charged that MCS is “a game-changer” that “should shunt hydrogen off as an expensive also-ran.”

MAN Truck & Bus, one of the truck OEMs that has implemented MCS, recently demonstrated MCS charging with a MAN eTruck at the company’s development center in Munich. The heavy-duty truck was charged at a level of over 700 kW and 1,000 A using a charging station from ABB E-mobility, one of the first megawatt charging points in Germany.

MCS chargers are intended to provide a fast charge for an electric truck or coach during the driver’s legally prescribed driving break. The new technology complements existing depot charging solutions, which provide a slower overnight charge.

“Bavaria is on the way to the mobility of the future,” said Bavarian Minister President Dr Markus Söder, who was present at the demo. “Today, the starting signal was given for the first megawatt charging station for electric trucks at MAN. This is state-of-the-art ecological and economical e-mobility that is being developed in Bavaria.”

“With MCS, sustainable long-distance transport with trucks and buses will be possible in the near future. We have proven that today, even if we are still showing a prototype here,” said Michael Halbherr, CEO of ABB E-mobility. “With the new MCS standard, we have not only doubled the amperage but also the charging capacity within just a few years.”

“The goal is 30,000 MCS charging points in Europe by 2030, around 4,000 of them in Germany,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus. “We put one of the first charging points into operation today. The electric trucks are available, megawatt charging is working. We now need clear signals from politicians, not least to build trust among our customers in favor of electrification.”

Source: ABB