CharIN shows MW charging system commercial EVs
The CCS initiative CharIN has demonstrated the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) for the first time at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS35) in Oslo. This is to become a future charging standard for heavy commercial vehicles. The prototype design of the plug was also revealed that should enable charging capacities of up to 3.75 MW.
The first pilot projects are aimed at heavy trucks and buses and are planned for 2023, followed by the commercial rollout for 2024. The development seems to be on schedule despite a few challenges – a first major presentation of the megawatt charging system for the EVS35 was promised for in 2021, but has only just now taken place.
The geometry of the charging plug, for example, was on display at the ABB eMobility stand. The design, long kept secret by CharIN, is triangular, with the tip pointing downwards. In the two upper corners are the (as expected) large receptacles for the two DC pins. The other, smaller pins for earthing and communication are placed in the middle and at the bottom. Since this is still a prototype, the final standard is not to be published until 2024, as mentioned above. CharIN says that the members of the organisation will present their respective products implementing MCS in the coming year. This means that the connector design should already be very close to the final specification.
In Oslo, not only unveiled the design of the MCS connector, but also directly demonstrated a charging process: At the CharIN stand, a Hypercharger column from Alpitronic equipped with a single MCS cable was connected to a Scania electric truck equipped with the MCS charging port.
“The Charging System for Heavy Duty Vehicles is here! And we are going beyond as CharIN community to promote this new global charging standard for trucks, marine and aeronautics.” writes the CharIN in a LinkedIn post.
The consortium has still not revealed exactly what charging power is possible with the converted Hypercharger and Scania. The Megawatt Charging System is designed for a charging voltage of up to 1,250 volts and a current of 3,000 amps, which theoretically corresponds to a charging capacity of up to 3.75 megawatts. More information on the MCS is expected in the coming days.
First time I see a MCS charging plug!
(still prototype though and design still not finalized) by @ABBelec
Huge + and – terminals, ground, CP and PP pins and two extra…(for automation?🤔)
MCS standard upto 3.75MW power for trucks and buses. #EVS35 pic.twitter.com/7gYO20RKl7— Roberto di Gento (@robertvg) June 12, 2022
One important feature of the new commercial vehicle charging standard has already been clear for a few months – and was also implemented on the stand in Oslo: Unlike electric cars, the position of the charging port on the vehicles is standardised for the MCS. The charging port will be on the left side of the vehicle, in an area between two and 4.80 metres behind the bumper. There it should be at about waist height – on the converted Scania it is directly behind the front wheel. This uniform position should simplify the construction of the loading parks. CharIN had already shown the first charging system layouts.
Reporting by Sebastian Schaal, Germany
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