MCS – a gamechanger for heavy duty vehicle charging

The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is transforming the way battery electric commercial vehicles are used, significantly reducing vehicle charging times. Thanks to MCS technology, an electric truck can now recharge during a legally mandated 45-minute driving break, providing enough power for an extra 4.5 hours on the road.

Milence, a joint venture between the TRATON GROUP, Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group, has set itself the goal of establishing a Europe-wide network of around 1,700 high-power charging stations by 2030. MCS makes it possible to charge electric trucks with an output of up to 3.75 megawatts (MW). This represents a tenfold improvement on the maximum power output of Combined Charging System (CCS) fast charging.

A coordinated effort between industry and politics is needed to meet renewable energy and high-power charging density requirements. An example of successful collaboration is the regulation adopted by the European Council concerning the development of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), which sets clear targets for constructing charging stations for electric commercial vehicles.