Research consortium hits 3,000-amp milestone for truck charging

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), MAN Truck & Bus, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) said they operated a complete charging path stably at 3,000 amperes for the first time this month, under the NEFTON research project on truck charging and grid connection.

The Megawatt Charging Standard (MCS) specifies up to 1,250 volts and 3,000 amperes. According to Fraunhofer ISE, current charging stations have not yet reached that full potential, with available systems topping out around 1 MW.

Fabian Schweizer, project manager at MAN, said the result would eventually enable trucks to add a range of more than 400 km in 10 to 15 minutes of charging. He said this depends on a new generation of battery systems designed specifically for very high charging power, which have not yet been developed.

Researchers tested the full charging path – including cables, connectors, distribution equipment, and vehicle batteries – at currents up to 3,000 A and voltages up to 1,250 V at a dedicated low-voltage test bench at TUM, evaluating thermal behavior, switching components, cooling, and safety architecture.

Malte Jaensch, a professor involved in the project, said the results lay “a crucial foundation for preparing 3 MW charging for industrial use.”

Dirk Kranzer, project manager at Fraunhofer ISE, said the new test benches are integrated into the institute’s existing fault-ride-through testing facility, which simulates brief voltage dips, allowing evaluation of grid-connection control requirements alongside the charging hardware itself.

Separately, the European Union has approved up to €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) for Germany’s motorway truck-charging program. A national funding track launched in 2026 covers depot and public heavy-duty charging, grid connections, battery storage, and load management. Germany’s current plans call for around 350 truck-charging locations nationwide, with a first funding tranche covering approximately 130 sites and 1,410 charging points, including at least 1,000 kW MCS-rated connections.

A separate 2026 Fraunhofer ISE study examining electric truck fleet operations found that combining rooftop solar, stationary battery storage, and energy management software was the most cost-effective configuration for logistics depots among those tested. The study found that pairing a 1 to 2 MWh battery with approximately 2,275 kWp of photovoltaic capacity could meet about 60% of a depot’s building electricity demand and 77% of charging demand from self-generated power. That configuration reduced annual electricity costs by up to 62.5% compared with uncontrolled operation, according to the study.