This represents the next milestone in the development of an efficient, high power charging solution that will reduce by half the charging time for heavy duty vehicles. Developing a solution to fast charge these commercial electric vehicles, which will also deliver significant range, is a major step towards increasing sales of heavy duty vehicles that can be driven fossil-free.
The initial testing, to prove the technical viability of high current charging, is a first important step towards the future MCS system from ABB E-mobility. This will result in the progressive deployment of high-power chargers, starting from 1500A and eventually extending to the full MCS scope of up to 3000A. This is a charging standard that Scania and ABB E-mobility have both invested in and have been instrumental in developing in collaboration with CharIN. The MCS standard is expected in 2024.
MCS technology is critical for Scania’s long haul electric trucks, where both driving time and resting time are regulated by law. A vehicle can be driven for a maximum of 4.5 hours before the driver needs to take a 45-minute break. During this time the truck needs to charge with enough power to operate for another 4.5 hours. Due to the size of the batteries, both fast and high-power charging is essential.
"We see a momentum for electric transport and our goal is that 50% of all vehicles we sell annually by 2030 are electric. To achieve this goal will require infrastructure and MCS is a crucial piece of the puzzle for the infrastructure going forward," says Fredrik Allard, head of E-mobility, Scania.
Chris Nordh, global head of the fleet and transit business at ABB E-mobility, commented: "We are delighted to be collaborating with Scania on this milestone pilot, which will set a precedent for the sector and identifies one of the ways we collaboratively approach OEM charging partnerships, effectively verticalising the technology stack to create great end user experiences. Today is an exciting day and we look forward to many more milestones to come as we further develop a quality, reliable, and seamless charging experience for fleets.”
From this year Scania can offer trucks with the MCS pre-standard connector to customers with specific and pronounced needs, with production set to begin in 2024. ABB E-mobility will introduce the next iteration of its MCS technology in late 2024 / early 2025.
