- First public charging demonstration with more than 700 kW and 1,000 A with an electric truck
- First prototype of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) from ABB E-mobility in Germany
- Joint testing of the MCS charging system at the MAN development centre in Munich
- Battery charging time: From 10% to 80% in around half an hour
- MCS charging extends range during the statutory driving time break by around 300 to 400 km1
ABB E-mobility and MAN Truck & Bus celebrated the premiere of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) today in the presence of Bavarian Minister President Dr Markus Söder. The MAN eTruck was charged with more than 700 kW and 1,000 A at an MCS charging station from ABB E-mobility.
Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister President: "Bavaria on the way to the mobility of the future: today, the starting signal was given for the first megawatt charging station for electric trucks at MAN in Munich. This is state-of-the-art ecological and economical e-mobility that is being developed in Bavaria. We need to put our domestic industry in a position to compete. Innovation and technology secure the future."
The premiere of megawatt charging was the starting signal for an elementary component of the mobility transition in the commercial vehicle sector towards climate-friendly mobility and the successful electrification of buses and trucks. Especially in national and international long-distance transport or in loading and unloading situations, electric trucks and, in the future, electric coaches will need a fast MCS booster during the legally prescribed driving time break. The new technology therefore complements existing solutions: Depot charging with lower charging capacities will continue to play a central role in the future.
The two companies have demonstrated at MAN's development centre in Munich that MCS charging already works today. One of the first megawatt charging points in Germany was installed there by ABB E-mobility. "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: With the new MCS standard, we have not only doubled the amperage but also the charging capacity within just a few years. To achieve the energy transition in transport, we need solutions that are sustainable, reliable and economical. To achieve this, we need to think integratively and work together. Today's demonstration is also the result of close collaboration 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, reiterated his call for more speed in the expansion of the charging infrastructure during the premiere of megawatt charging: "The goal is 30,000 MCS charging points in Europe by 2030, around 4,000 of them in Germany. We put one of the first charging points into operation today. We don't have much time left to set it up. 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 favour of electrification. We now need to build and scale up the infrastructure quickly."
The new MCS megawatt charging standard is technically designed for charging capacities of up to 3.75 MW at 3,000 amperes (A). Today, ABB E-mobility and MAN have demonstrated more than 700 kW charging power with prototype charging technology. With the finalisation of the MCS standard, charging capacities of over one megawatt will already be possible. This will result in a significant improvement in charging times. By way of comparison, today's charging stations with the CCS standard (Combined Charging System) can be used by cars and commercial vehicles and offer a maximum charging capacity of 400 kW at 500 A. The international standardisation process for the Megawatt Charging System is expected to be completed this year. ABB E-mobility and MAN have contributed their expertise to the creation of the MCS standard in the international industry association CharIN.
The fact is, a lot of energy is needed for MCS charging. When so much electricity is flowing, the infrastructure behind the visible charging points, the grid connections and the space requirements, e.g. at motorway service stations, car parks or truck stops, play a key role. Grid expansion and the digitalisation of the grids are not only essential for the future supply of renewable energy, but also a prerequisite for the charging infrastructure.
Further information about the MCS standard can be found here:
Megawatt Charging System (MCS) (charin.global)
1 with a maximum installed battery capacity in the MAN eTruck of 534 kWh (6 battery packs)
ABB E-mobility is enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient mobility future as a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. ABB E-mobility is a partner of choice for the world’s biggest EV OEMs and nationwide EV charging network operators. It offers the widest portfolio of EV charging solutions from smart chargers for the home to high-power chargers for the highway stations of the future, solutions for the electrification of fleets and charging for electric buses and trucks. With ~1,500 employees around the world, ABB E-mobility has sold more than one million EV chargers across more than 85 markets, including over 50,000 DC fast chargers. e-mobility.abb.com
MAN Truck & Bus is one of Europe's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers and providers of transport solutions with an annual turnover of around 14,8 billion euros (2023). The product portfolio includes vans, trucks, buses, diesel and gas engines as well as services for passenger and freight transport. The electric drive is already an integral part of the standard range of MAN buses and MAN vans, and a comprehensive portfolio of series-produced electric trucks has been on sale since October 2023. Together with digitalisation and automation in road freight transport, the transition to CO2-free driving is a key pillar of the NewMAN strategy for the future, with which the company is transforming itself from a commercial vehicle manufacturer into a provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions by 2030. MAN Truck & Bus is a TRATON GROUP company and employs around 33,000 people worldwide. www.man.eu
