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- MAN and ABB E-mobility developing megawatt charging systems & standards for commercial electrification
MAN and ABB E-mobility developing megawatt charging systems & standards for commercial electrification
MAN Truck & Bus, a European commercial vehicle manufacturer, and ABB E-mobility, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, are collaborating on R&D for the electric commercial vehicle industry.
The companies are starting their partnership with the development of products and standards, focusing on the unique requirements of commercial vehicles. A key area of collaboration is the megawatt charging system (MCS), which aims to enable charging capacities in the megawatt range for sustainable and economical long-distance heavy goods and passenger transport.
The partnership will also address challenges such as the ISO15118-20 communication standard and new ways of transmitting signals. The basis for MCS is Ethernet communication, which is being used for the first time in electric vehicles. Early software and interoperability tests with vehicles and charging stations are planned to establish reliable products in the emerging market.
The cooperation, initially scheduled to run for three years, will focus on the customer experience, in addition to the internal development and further development of charging stations, vehicles, and software. The goal is to bring a product to the market by 2025 that meets the requirements of logistics.
The collaboration will also extend to the travel sector, with MCS being used for motorhomes and coaches, which is soon to bring additional challenges to the charging industry along with a set of new user behaviors.
Thomas Nickels, Senior Vice President Engineering at MAN, said, “Cooperation in the area of research and development is rather rare in our industry. Together with ABB E-mobility, we are striving for a trusting, binding and transparent partnership. We are already starting with the development of products and standards and are focusing on the special requirements of the commercial vehicle industry.”
Floris van de Klashorst, Senior Vice President Products & Hardware Platforms at ABB E-mobility, added, “High charging performance, reliable technology and customer confidence – these are the prerequisites for the success of electromobility in heavy goods and long-distance passenger transport. By working together with MAN right from the early product phase, we can respond even better to the needs of our customers. By 2025, we want to bring a product to the market that meets the requirements of logistics.”