To encourage and facilitate the adoption of heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEVs), more and more companies are investing in the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).
It’s worth mentioning that currently, heavy transport accounts for more than a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by road transport in the European Union (EU).
That’s why electrifying this sector is essential.
Furthermore, to accelerate the transition, the European Commission has set new targets: on average, new trucks must emit 43 per cent less CO2 in 2030 than in 2019, 64 per cent less in 2035, and 90 per cent less in 2040.
Additionally, by 2030, 90 per cent of urban bus sales must be zero emissions, and by 2035, complete elimination must be achieved.
Below, Mobility Portal Europe shares the projects of those companies that have announced the incorporation of MCS.
ABB Group presents the MCS Charger
In March, ABB Group and MAN Truck & Bus celebrated the device’s presentation at an event attended by the Minister-President of Bavaria, Markus Söder.
During the ceremony, an eTruck was charged with over 700 kilowatts and 1,000 amperes.
It’s worth mentioning that the MAN development center in Munich is where ABB will install Germany’s first-megawatt charging points.
With the completion of this standard, charging capacities exceeding one megawatt can be achieved, resulting in improved charging times.
The international standardization process for the equipment is expected to be completed this year.
During the presentation, Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, stated: “The goal is to have 30,000 MCS charging points in Europe by 2030, of which around 4,000 will be in Germany.”
Autel Energy introduces the Maxicharger MCS
The company is introducing a new solution for heavy charging in the European market.
“We will launch the one-megawatt charger for trucks and buses,” anticipates Per Jeppson, Vice President of Nordic Sales at Autel, in conversation with Mobility Portal Europe.
The MCS Maxicharger is the next generation in charging solutions, distinguished by its maximum power in megawatts and its satellite compatibility, ensuring seamless integration with said outlet.
It’s worth noting that this charger is already available for pre-orders in Europe.
In partnership with Hubject, the company will conduct extensive tests to ensure the perfect integration of the MaxiCharger with the main charging network platform.
BP Pulse will build a truck station with MCS in England
BP Pulse is set to take over a truck stop in Ashford International Truckstop in Kent, with plans to develop an extensive rapid charging park for electric trucks there.
The location would offer space for approximately 20-megawatt chargers, ten 400-kilowatt chargers, and 125 100-kilowatt chargers.
The first MCS infrastructures are expected to be connected to the grid from 2026.
Expansion will depend on the availability of electrical connections and the pace of electrification in road freight transport in the UK and Europe, according to the company.
However, it is worth mentioning that the potential demand is high, given that the location is strategically positioned near Dover, the UK’s busiest ferry port, and the Eurotunnel in Folkestone.
Stefan von Dobschuetz, Managing Director of bp pulse Europe, comments that if the first CCS charging points come into operation before the ultra-fast ones, they will allow a connection from the UK to BP Pulse’s German charging corridors, which is crucial for building a comprehensive network in Europe.
Kempower releases a charger with over 1 MW for HDEVs
At the Nordic EV Summit, where Mobility Portal Europe was present, the company explained that they have invested in their facilities to build the high-power systems of the future.
The goal of this innovation is to enable drivers to recharge eTrucks during their mandatory rest periods at optimal times.
This is a state-of-the-art solution for HDEVs with powers exceeding one megawatt, designed to address the challenges of electrifying heavy vehicles and meet the decarbonization goals of the EU and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
Building on its leading technology, the first version of Kempower‘s Megawatt charging solution features a maximum power of 1500 amperes (A), 1.2 megawatts, and a Kempower Mega Satellite.
This system ensures maximum compatibility with high-power CCS or MCS plugs, and unused energy can be distributed among multiple outlets using dynamic power sharing.
Kempower customers can upgrade their existing systems to MCS by combining two 600-kilowatt power units, optimizing space, and facilitating truck charging.
This system is already available for orders in Europe and will start delivery in the first quarter of this year.
Kverneland Energi announces a 2 MW charging station
Kverneland Energi is not lagging behind this trend.
During the Nordic EV Summit, the Norwegian-based firm notified about the construction of a charger with a groundbreaking power of two megawatts.
“It’s our first major project in this field,” revealed Torbjørn Kverneland, the company’s sales director, in a conversation with Mobility Portal Europe.
It is important to emphasize that the company works with energy systems for renewable energy production and jointly uses solar cells, batteries, lightning chargers, and software.
Milence inaugurates two charging hub for eTrucks in France
Milence, the joint venture between Daimler Truck, TRATON GROUP, and Volvo Group, has expanded its operations to the French market with the completion of the first phase of its charging center in Heudebouville, located 40 kilometers south of the city of Rouen.
The development of the charging center in Heudebouville will be carried out in two distinct phases, and the opening of the site marks the completion of the first phase.
The second phase, scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, will include more charging points with MCS technology.
The center, Milence’s first in the country, is strategically located in the logistics district of Agglomeration Seine Eure.
It is a crucial route for haulers and heavy vehicle drivers traveling between Paris and other major logistics centers in Normandy, such as Le Havre (France’s largest container port), Caen, Dieppe, and Rouen.
Additionally, recently, the company announced its second charging center in the country, which will be located in the city of Perpignan and will also feature MCS technology.”
