In September, an international task force including representatives of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) hosted a meeting of “leading OEMs, utilities, equipment manufacturers and suppliers” to test prototypes for a new charging system for heavy-duty vehicles: the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).

The task force says the test, which focused primarily on the fit and thermal performance of vehicle inlets and megawatt charger connectors, yielded promising results, and that the new system could overhaul the long-haul trucking industry.

For over-the-road trucks, charging speed is critical. Today’s ICE trucks refuel during mandated driver breaks, and schedules are tight. Industry observers agree that even the 350 kW power level considered today’s state of the art for passenger car charging won’t cut it for trucks. James Carter, a consultant at Vision Mobility, estimated that a battery-electric semi truck would need 8 to 10 hours to reach a full charge at 350 kW. The ultimate goal of the MCS task force is to develop a system that could charge a truck’s massive battery pack in half an hour.

In September, an international task force including representatives of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) hosted a meeting of “leading OEMs, utilities, equipment manufacturers and suppliers” to test prototypes for a new charging system for heavy-duty vehicles: the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).

In September, an international task force including representatives of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) hosted a meeting of “leading OEMs, utilities, equipment manufacturers and suppliers” to test prototypes for a new charging system for heavy-duty vehicles: the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).

In September, an international task force including representatives of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) hosted a meeting of “leading OEMs, utilities, equipment manufacturers and suppliers” to test prototypes for a new charging system for heavy-duty vehicles: the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).