- MAN Truck & Bus demonstrated the first public megawatt charging for electric trucks, achieving over 1000 kW and 1500 amps.
- The NEFTON project showcased the efficiency of the Megawatt Charging System, emphasizing its role in decarbonizing freight transport.
- Bavarian State Minister Hubert Aiwanger praised MAN Truck & Bus, with Bavaria supporting the installation of 86 charging points.
MAN Truck & Bus successfully demonstrates the world’s first public megawatt charging for an electric truck
NEFTON, a MAN Truck & Bus charging project with the Technical University of Munich, has achieved a significant milestone. They successfully demonstrated the first public megawatt charging for electric trucks, delivering over 1000 kW and 1500 amps. This event, attended by Bavarian State Minister Hubert Aiwanger and other notable figures, showcased the capabilities of a 40-tonne electric truck.
In just 30 minutes, the truck charged enough to cover 400 kilometres.
The NEFTON project, launched in 2021, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. It focuses on the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), designed for ultra-fast charging of electric trucks. MAN Truck & Bus played a crucial role in this project.
Dr. Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research and Development at MAN, explained the importance of the project:
“With NEFTON, we have succeeded in developing technologies to charge e-trucks within a very short time and with a power output of over 1000 kW. Our research focussed on practicality, costs and grid connection power. Together with our project partners, we have clearly demonstrated that electric trucks and megawatt charging are the perfect combination for the comprehensive decarbonisation of road freight transport. The technology is there, now we need to drive forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure in the market in close cooperation with politicians, the energy industry and vehicle manufacturers,”
Battery electric trucks are highly efficient, with an efficiency rate of around 75%. In comparison, fuel cell trucks and eFuels lag behind with efficiencies of 26% and 14%. However, the lack of infrastructure on main transport routes remains a challenge.
We’re seeing attempts to change that around the world. Megawatt charging is drifting from sci-fi to reality, and hubs around the world are preparing for the technology’s deployment. The first use of this game-changing tech in a public charge point is revolutionary, and we’re confident will see this achievement echoed in the coming months.
Minister Hubert Aiwanger recognised the importance of this showcase:
“The research project shows: High-tech and expertise from Bavaria are shaping the mobility of the future. Such initiatives are gradually decarbonising logistics and freight transport, thereby also strengthening Bavaria as a business location. I would therefore like to thank everyone who has successfully participated in the NEFTON project. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) in particular massively accelerates the charging times of trucks and is therefore a milestone for electromobility. MAN has already proven the practicality of this technology and played a key role in its standardisation. We are also taking MCS technology into account in our current funding programme. In the first round, we are financing 86 charging points for road freight transport, and the next funding call is due to start in late autumn. Together with our hydrogen funding, this programme stands for the Bavarian state government’s openness to technology in mobility.”
The charging race is on, and the megawatt finish line has been hit by charging operators around the world. Now it’s a matter of deployment. MAN and NEFTON’s trial here is breaking new ground on the megawatt story. The tech is here, now the infrastructure has to catch up. Bring on the roll-out.
