Megawatt charging: The new frontier for electric vehicles

Most people, goods and produce on land are transported by buses, trains and trucks. Decarbonising transport means we must find solutions for these heavy vehicles as well. Due to the size and weight of these transport options, electrifying them comes with new challenges, such as the size of the battery required to power the vehicle for appropriately long distances, the time it takes to fully charge the batteries and also the scalability to fully supply
a sector that relies on millions of trucks across continents.

To make heavy-duty electric trucks a widespread reality, a new solution for high-power charging is needed. This is why the industry is working to realise the potential of megawatt charging systems (MCS), designed for a charging voltage of up to 1,250 volts and a current of 3,000 amps. In fact, charging heavy-duty vehicles at more than one megawatt is roughly four times greater the capacity than
what Tesla’s Model 3 can charge.

Although MCS is emerging, a key challenge is ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to address this continuously evolving market. Charging availability and simplicity, as well as real-time information and safety, are key to achieving an effective rollout.

Phihong Technology, a power supply manufacturer and its new subsidiary, Zerova, catering exclusively to the EV charging market, are working with global association CharIN to help accelerate the adoption and rollout
of megawatt charging. CharIN is the largest user group of EV standards, with more than 260 active member companies, and is working to standardise megawatt charging solutions to speed uptake.

Zerova is already providing solutions for fleet and heavy vehicles, and working towards megawatt capability. For example, our Depot Charger is suspended from the ground at the height of 5m to charge electric buses and is compatible with all standard charging technology specifications. It is fully
modular and does not require human intervention for plugging and unplugging.

By combining the expertise of industry partners working on solutions for heavy vehicles, we can get to the next frontier of EV charging sooner. Working collaboratively to deliver standardised charging solutions that enable organisations to be better and faster in rolling out such infrastructure will be the key catalyst for the wider uptake of electric vehicles, heralding a new era of electrification that benefits the planet and everyone living on it.