As heavy-duty electric vehicles gain popularity, megawatt charging technology is becoming a commercial reality.
The race to electrify long-haul transport is intensifying. Here, we look at the latest developments in megawatt charging technology and what these tell us about the future of heavy-duty electrification
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates across Europe and Asia, the spotlight is now on a critical bottleneck in the transition to zero-emission freight: high-capacity charging for heavy-duty vehicles.
A new generation of megawatt-scale charging systems (MCS) is being piloted, commercialised, and deployed across regions to address the unique demands of electric trucks and buses. From EU-funded research projects and pan-European charging corridors to groundbreaking technology platforms in China, the latest developments indicate that megawatt charging is no longer a future aspiration but an emerging commercial reality.
BUILDING THE BACKBONE OF EUROPE’S TRUCK CHARGING NETWORK
One of the most significant initiatives in this space is the €10 million MACBETH (Multipoint megAwatt Charging for Battery Electric Truck Hubs) project, backed by the European Commission and coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. With participation from 19 industrial and academic partners, MACBETH is focused on building the technological and infrastructural foundation for a continent-wide MCS network to support battery-electric heavy-duty transport.
Running through to 2029, MACBETH aims to validate high-power, multipoint charging through two full-scale demonstration hubs. These stations will simultaneously accommodate heavy-duty trucks, medium-duty vehicles, and even private electric cars. VTT senior scientist and project coordinator Yancho Todorov confirmed that one of the project’s key objectives is to trial new business models for depot and public charging infrastructure to ensure commercial viability.
One innovative component under evaluation is a robotic charging arm developed by Rocsys, designed to automate the high-power charging process. As Joost van der Weijde of Rocsys explains, “The robotised charging arm will not only free drivers’ time and increase productivity but also enhance safety. Currently, drivers must exit their vehicles, handle heavy charging cables, and interrupt their break time. By automating the charging process, we’re addressing critical ergonomic, operational, and safety challenges.”
THE CORRIDOR STRATEGY
Complementing the MACBETH project is the rollout of Europe’s first megawatt-enabled freight corridor by Milence, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, the TRATON Group, and Volvo Group. The latest milestone in this effort was the expansion of Milence’s Landvetter charging hub near Gothenburg, Sweden, where a MCS is now operational.
The Landvetter site adds to Milence’s growing list of active hubs – currently four in Sweden and others in the Netherlands and Belgium – forming a strategic MCS corridor from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to Stockholm. With the installation of Power Electronics’ MCS units delivering up to 1,440kW (1,000V, 1,500A), trucks like the Volvo FH Aero Electric can charge from 20% to 80% in 30–45 minutes, aligning with EU-mandated rest breaks for drivers.
Anja van Niersen, CEO of Milence, emphasises that, “public charging infrastructure is the key enabler for long-haul electric transport, and its success depends on high-power charging solutions deployed where demand is emerging fastest.” This corridor-first deployment model is central to the group’s strategy and aligns with the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which mandates 600kW-capable stations every 60km on core transport routes by 2027.
COLD-WEATHER CHARGING
Megawatt charging is also being tested in one of Europe’s most challenging environments. German hardware manufacturer Autel Europe and Icelandic charge point operator ON Power have successfully deployed a commercial MCS site in Borgarnes, located on Iceland’s national Ring Road. The MaxiCharger MCS system currently offers 640kW but is built on a modular architecture designed to scale up to 1.2MW and 1,500A, fully compliant with IEC 61851 and ISO 15118 standards.
According to ON Power’s Jóhann Ingi Magnússon, “Our goal is to lead the energy transition and build infrastructure that supports emerging technologies – even before they reach mainstream use in Iceland.” Engineered for extreme cold, this installation marks a technological milestone and underlines the viability of megawatt charging in harsh conditions.
COMMERCIAL CHARGING DEPLOYMENT
Truckmaker Scania, part of the TRATON Group, is preparing for full-scale commercial deployment of its own MCS-compatible electric trucks by early 2026. Scania’s MCS will support up to 750kW charging and a maximum current of 3,000A – twice the rate of today’s CCS2 standard. Charging a heavy truck from 20% to 80% will take less than 30 minutes, according to the company.
Daniel Schulze, head of Scania eTruck Solutions, highlights both performance and operational efficiency benefits: “Our new charging technology not only ensures operational efficiency and reliability over long distances but also supports our goal of making sustainable transport a practical reality.”
Traton Charging Solutions, the group’s dedicated e-mobility service provider, is simultaneously working to ensure that this ultra-fast charging is economically viable. Petra Sundström, managing director of Traton Charging Solutions, says: “The MCS technology allows both public and private charging infrastructure to meet the demands of high-capacity charging, ensuring that operators can recharge quickly and economically.”
A MATTER OF SECONDS
While much of the European focus is on heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure, China’s BYD has made headlines by introducing megawatt charging for passenger vehicles. The company’s Super e-Platform, launched in March this year, is built on a full-domain 1000V architecture and integrates a 1MW (1000A, 1000V) “Flash Charging Battery.” According to BYD, this technology allows EVs like the Han L to gain 400km of range in just five minutes.
Chairman Wang Chuanfu summarised the company’s ambition: “The ultimate solution is to make charging as quick as refuelling a gasoline car.”
Supporting this high-speed charging is a new generation of self-developed SiC power chips, rated at 1,500V, and the world’s first liquid-cooled charging terminal capable of 1,360kW. BYD also plans to roll out 4,000 “Megawatt Flash Charging” stations across China, backed by dual-gun and voltage-boosting technology for interoperability with existing infrastructure.
GRID CONSTRAINTS
Despite significant progress in megawatt charging technologies, challenges remain. According to the International Energy Agency, ultra-fast chargers (150kW and above) accounted for nearly 10% of all public fast chargers by mid-2024, with deployment growing by over 50% that year. However, grid congestion remains a significant barrier, particularly in regions such as the UK and the Netherlands, where planning delays and local grid limitations hinder deployment.
New EU legislation is attempting to resolve these bottlenecks. The AFIR regulation requires each highway station to deliver a minimum of 400kW by 2025, rising to 600kW by 2027. Still, achieving these targets will demand not only new hardware but also intelligent load management, public-private partnerships, and regulatory streamlining.
AN INDUSTRY CATALYST?
As heavy-duty EVs become more prevalent, the deployment of megawatt-scale charging infrastructure is emerging as a cornerstone of the decarbonised transport ecosystem. Projects like MACBETH are laying the groundwork for long-term network design and business viability. At the same time, manufacturers like Scania and BYD are proving that high-capacity charging is no longer limited to the laboratory or test track.
The transition to megawatt charging marks more than a technical evolution, but also demonstrates a fundamental rethinking of how energy is delivered, used, and monetised in the mobility sector. With strategic corridors opening up and commercial vehicles entering the market, the shift to high-speed, high-power electric charging is well underway.
