Powering the electric truck transition: Why CPOs should adopt Megawatt Charging Systems

The e-mobility industry is no longer only focussed on passenger EVs; the shift toward electric trucks is underway. With commercial fleets expected to make up two-thirds of the EV market’s total value by 2030, electrified heavy-duty EVs are on their way to becoming the mainstream.

The complete electrification of road transportation requires more powerful charging infrastructure. That’s where Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) come in. MCS is a new charging standard that allows heavy-duty electric vehicles to charge at extremely high rates of 1MW or higher, making it essential in supporting the coming boom in electric trucks.

In this blog post, we will dive into what an MCS solution entails and examine its challenges and opportunities, to help you decide whether your business should invest in MCS.

Why should I commit to megawatt charging?

There’s no doubt that changes in the market mean megawatt charging will be a key milestone along the e-mobility transition roadmap. The biggest question is when? The most common concern businesses have when considering the benefits of installing Megawatt Charging Systems is whether they should install the infrastructure before MCS-compatible trucks are available and rolled out. This creates a chicken and egg situation.

So who should be the first to take the leap, and why? Vehicle OEMs are already in the process of developing MCS-compatible vehicles, with the first prototype vehicles expected to be released this year. Charging hardware manufacturers have been preparing too, with Kempower having delivered its first prototype unit in December 2024. However, the real push for industry adoption needs to come from CPOs and logistic companies, who have much to gain from being an early adopter.   

With major truck manufacturers committing to electrification, (Scania has pledged that 50% of all vehicles it sells will be electric by 2050 and Volvo Trucks plans for 50% of all its vehicles sold to be fully electric by 2030) installing a MCS solution on site is a golden opportunity for CPOs and logistic companies. Businesses that offer MCS charging will be able to sell significantly more energy per charging session compared to CCS charging alone, due to the sheer amount of energy delivered by a typical MCS charging session in comparison. Flexibility is another benefit, as MCS charging typically involves short charging windows of high power, allowing for quick turnarounds where customers need them.

Whoever has the infrastructure ready when the MCS-compatible trucks arrive will be in a great position to  reap the benefits of MCS charging. While some market players are waiting for the charging infrastructure to be in place to commit, the first CPOs to install it will receive the most prestige and traffic from these expectant customers. Inevitably there will be a ramp up phase, during which there will be a limited number of MCS-compatible trucks on the road. However, early MCS charging infrastructure can still be fully utilized during this time, as manufacturers such as Kempower enable dynamic power sharing between MCS and up to 6 additional CCS2 outputs in the same system. This allows power to be routed to CCS2 outputs while MCS outputs are not being used, leading to optimal site utilization during the MCS adoption ramp up period.

Is an MCS solution suitable for my site?

To get ready to lead the charge and install MCS at your site, CPOs and logistics companies should begin planning now: The first MCS-compatible prototype vehicles will likely be available this year, and the first MCS charger pilot projects are underway, with serial production to be expected across the industry from late 2026 to 2027.

MCS chargers need to be placed along long-haul trucking routes to provide electric trucks with power during mandated rest breaks, which provide the ideal opportunity for drivers to recharge while on the move. Regulatory rest breaks for truck drivers in Europe and North America last only 30-45 minutes, and, when time is money, can’t be extended. These short windows mean that charging power over a megawatt is needed to meet the demands of these heavy-duty electric trucks on long-haul routes and ensure they are sufficiently recharged for the next leg of their journey.

Sites such as truck stops along motorways, charging sites around urban nodes or at warehouses and logistic centers (often the final destination of trucks) are ideal locations for an MCS offering. They are best placed to serve the first wave of heavy-duty electric trucks as they look for charging opportunities along long-haul routes. 

With limited grid capacities being the standard nowadays, grid availability and options for local energy production and storage need to be considered. Charging sites will also need to offer enough space to accommodate heavy-duty and passenger vehicles needing both CCS and MCS charging. While a smaller site does not necessarily mean it is unsuitable since smart charging design can optimize use of space, it is important to remember that heavy-duty vehicles require significantly more space than passenger cars to maneuver.

Choosing the right MCS solution 

 Once your site is selected, it is crucial to choose a charging supplier that meets the needs of your site. Kempower has been pioneering MCS development and designed its solution with the needs of customers in mind, resulting in an ultra-flexible and scalable charging system.

The layout of your site is important. Adding MCS charging to your site does not mean you need to double your space – instead it is important to be smart about how you utilize existing space. Ensure that your site grows with the e-mobility transition by offering CCS charging lanes that can easily be transformed into MCS lanes, once demand grows. To support this, suppliers like Kempower offer the possibility to design charging sites as “MCS ready” and then upgrade it later to MCS by adding a MCS Mega Satellite to the system. Furthermore, choosing a charging manufacturer like Kempower which uses small charger footprints and a distributed charging system means sites can employ space-efficient designs which don’t sacrifice charging spaces and allow for maneuvering of trucks.

And if you already have Kempower CCS outputs installed on your site, then no problem. Our existing customers with the latest version of 600kW Kempower Power Units can upgrade their charging sites to MCS without installing new charging infrastructure from scratch, by adding another 600kW Power Unit to their sites. Customers can then connect the new Kempower Mega Satellite to two 600kW Power Units to unlock megawatt charging of up to 1.2 megawatts for electric trucks.

The Kempower MCS system is also based on existing and reliable technology. As a customer, choosing a supplier that has proven success over many years with its distributed charging system in the market is vital, as it removes the risk that comes with adopting a completely newly developed system.

With the MCS transition just beginning, it is vital that charging sites are future-proof. This means you need scalable charging solutions that help your business grow with the heavy-duty electric truck transition. The future will bring even more game-changing solutions – for example, once MCS-compatible trucks become mainstream, MCS charging points will need functioning and highly integrated reservation systems, as logistic companies cannot afford long idle and waiting times for their vehicles. Providing MCS charging promises to be a profitable enterprise – players that begin planning for the future of MCS now will benefit the most.

Want to join us in leading the MCS charge? Speak to Moritz to discuss how we can optimize your site for truck charging. 

Written by

Moritz Vornfeld

Segment Owner, Fleets