CCS megawatt charging: New standards for the charging infrastructure of electric utility vehicles

The mobility of the future is being shaped now, including that of the commercial vehicle sector, where CCS megawatt charging is setting new standards. The focus of the transformation is on our climate, but of course also on the interests of companies. The electrification of road transport as a whole is an important lever for achieving our climate targets. Innovative technologies are helping to make the electrification of the commercial vehicle sector efficient and economical.

Developments in the electric utility vehicle market

While electric cars are already widespread and are becoming increasingly established in everyday life, the market for electric utility vehicles is currently experiencing impressive growth. In 2024, the market share of electric utility vehicles reached a new record high.

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This also reflects the increasing acceptance of and demand for environmentally friendly transportation solutions. This positive development is being boosted by a number of factors, including significant advances in battery technology, the introduction of stricter emissions regulations and targeted support in the form of government subsidies and tax incentives.

The role of charging infrastructure for electric utility vehicles

A central aspect of the electrification of utility vehicles is the charging infrastructure. Battery capacities and charging power play a decisive role here. With an enormous output of one megawatt, it is possible to charge even large utility vehicles in long-distance logistics in a reasonable amount of time using the established CCS standard. A technological advancement of the established CCS standard, which is of great importance for both the acceptance and practical use of electric utility vehicles. This is because electric utility vehicles are seen as the most cost-effective solution for the logistics industry in the long term, as they have lower operating costs and require less maintenance.

Challenges facing the e-mobility industry

Logistics companies often still have mixed feelings about electrifying their vehicles. In addition to critical issues such as high acquisition costs, the fact that the range of e-trucks still needs to be extended in some cases and the comparatively small number of models still available, the charging infrastructure is a basic prerequisite for the business. Downtimes and delays caused by defective, unavailable or throttled charging infrastructure cost logistics companies dearly. Reliable charging connectors are a prerequisite for a reliable charging infrastructure network.

Long-distance logistics in particular depends on large battery capacities and reasonable charging times. After 4.5 hours of driving, a 45-minute break is mandatory, which must be sufficient to recharge the battery.

Rethinking cooling and maintenance for CCS megawatt charging

Safety plays a central role for users and operators: charging infrastructure must function reliably and safely. Robust design and integrated temperature monitoring in real time ensure a high level of safety. Monitoring with Pt-1000 sensors ensures that the charging connectors do not overheat, while leakage detection identifies potential problems at an early stage, without any additional electronics.

An innovative cooling concept with insulated cables and an environmentally friendly water-glycol mixture ensures efficient heat dissipation at the crucial contact points. Maintenance has also been simplified: mating face frames and contacts can be replaced directly at the charging station without opening the housing or draining the coolant. This saves time and costs when servicing is required.

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Practical and sustainable maintenance of the CCS megawatt charging connector.

Future prospects and upgrades

With the enormous charging power of the CCS megawatt charging connector, not only electric cars can be charged in just a few minutes. There are also developments currently being observed by car manufacturers who want to make their electric vehicles even more attractive to their customers with charging powers in the megawatt range. For the first time, many electric utility vehicles, which require high charging powers with their large batteries in order to achieve acceptable charging times during scheduled breaks, are also quickly ready for use again. In the future, upgrades to the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) could follow for even more required power.

You can read more about this in the article “CCS or megawatts? How much charging power does e-mobility really need – and when?“, which takes a detailed look at the requirements for charging power in e-mobility.

Conclusion

The electrification of road transport, especially utility vehicles, is an important step towards the necessary change in mobility. Advances in battery technology, but above all in the expansion of the charging infrastructure, are making this development increasingly practicable. CCS megawatt charging enables large batteries of utility vehicles to be charged quickly with up to one megawatt of power, which promotes the acceptance and practical use of electric utility vehicles. The advanced cooling and safety features ensure reliable charging processes, while the possibility of future upgrades to the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) represents a sustainable investment.

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Your personal contact person

For all queries regarding our components for electric vehicles. I will be happy to advise you on our charging inlets and our vehicle charging controller and look forward to receiving your call or email.

Florian Grothaus, Product Manager CHARX connect
Florian Grothaus
Product Manager CHARX connect

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