Electric vehicle industry experts and scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are testing and evaluating the compatibility of inlet and connectors for a new high-power charging standard for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles called the Megawatt Charging System (MCS). MCS will facilitate charging capacity up to 3.75MW—seven times higher than the current light-duty fast charging technology, which peaks at 500 kilowatts. When electrified, medium- and heavy-duty trucks—workhorses of the economy that move goods nationwide—will require different charging facilities from those that now serve passenger cars. To meet the needs of medium- and heavy-duty fleets, truck charging stations of the future must provide fast charging at an estimated capacity of 1 megawatt or more. This need also extends beyond road vehicles: Industries from aviation to shipping are considering options to electrify their fleets and are also looking for a 15- to 20-minute fast-charging standard. To support the MCS effort, […]