Electric trucks are on the rise – but when it comes to charging infrastructure, the heavy-duty sector poses entirely new challenges. In this interview, Marcel Rümenapf explains what makes megawatt charging so crucial, what hurdles remain and how Siemens is working to drive standardization forward.
Because heavy-duty vehicles need to cover long distances and they need to get back on the road fast. Charging them with existing infrastructure simply isn’t practical. With the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), we’re talking about charging capacities of up to 3.75 megawatts – enough to provide hundreds of kilometers of range in under an hour. That’s the breakthrough we need to make long-haul e-trucking viable.
It’s a technological leap forward. We’re not just scaling existing technology – we’re developing something fundamentally new. MCS involves higher voltages, larger currents, active cable cooling and new connector designs. On top of that, the system must remain safe, easy to handle and suitable for automated use in the future.
Yes, the power demand is huge. One MCS charging point equals the load of ten or more car chargers – per truck. It’s not just about charging hardware, but also transformers, substations, smart energy management. Without early coordination with grid operators, scaling will hit a wall. But the electric trucks are coming – and they need charging.
As a system provider, we’re looking at the full picture – from grid connection and power electronics to the actual charging unit. We’re currently involved in pilot projects, actively contributing to the development of international standards and work closely with OEMs and grid operators. Our goal is to make megawatt charging not just technically feasible, but commercially scalable.
We’re making progress, but there’s still work to do. Standardization ensures interoperability – which is essential if you want widespread adoption. The good news is that the industry is working together: OEMs, suppliers, utilities and policymakers are all in dialogue. Siemens is deeply involved in those processes and partnerships, because we believe MCS must be a shared effort.
First, we need to finalize and roll out the global standard. Then it’s about scaling up infrastructure fast – along key logistics corridors, at depots and at public truck stops. But none of that works without grid integration. These charging systems draw huge amounts of power, so smart energy management and grid planning will be essential.
Very positive. The vehicles are coming – manufacturers are ready. Now it's about building the ecosystem to support them. With MCS, we’re enabling a zero-emission future for freight transport. And that’s something worth accelerating. If industry, policymakers, and utilities align, we can electrify a meaningful share of long-haul freight by 2030.