On the site of the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport, in the presence of German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Dr. Volker Wissing, MAN Truck & Bus had a near-series prototype of its upcoming electric truck driven in public for the first time.
A special technical feature of the trailblazing electric commercial vehicle, which will be launched in the market in 2024, is its capacity for future megawatt charging. ABB E-mobility, a global provider of charging solutions for electric vehicles, aims to bring megawatt charging technology to market maturity, in the next three years.
MAN – ABB E-mobility partnership
MAN Truck & Bus (MAN) and ABB E-mobility are revving up for the next phase of electro-mobility
MAN Truck & Bus (MAN) and ABB E-mobility are, thus, revving up for the next phase of electro-mobility - operational capability for heavy-duty long-haul trucking with daily ranges between 600 and 800 kilometers.
Moreover, with their unequivocal commitment to electro-mobility, the two companies are signaling that the industry is ready to proceed, and that legislators must establish the policy framework for zero-emission road haulage.
Decarbonizing road freight transport
Dr. Volker Wissing, the German Federal Minister of Digital and Transport, said “We need to decarbonize road freight transport to achieve our climate targets. To make this happen, we are focusing above all on the market ramp-up of climate friendly commercial vehicles and the development of a corresponding high-performance charging infrastructure.”
He adds, “The project we are supporting on high-performance charging for e-trucks on the A2 is providing important learning. What is important now is to get more e-trucks on the road quickly. The partnership between MAN and ABB shows that we are on the right track.”
Need for expansion of the charging infrastructure
During the minister’s test drive in the MAN electric truck, Alexander Vlaskamp, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MAN Truck & Bus, emphasized that “Accelerating the expansion of the charging infrastructure is the only way to achieve the evolution of transport and meet climate targets.”
He also highlighted, “Why MAN is relying on battery-electric powertrains for future carbon-free commercial vehicle fleets - low operating costs and the best overall energy footprint. As part of the Traton Group, we are already participating in a joint venture with industry partners to develop and operate a high-performance public charging network, with a target of at least 1,700 green electricity charging points across Europe.”
Using future megawatt charging systems
To enable long-distance daily ranges between 600 and 800 kilometers, the MAN electric truck, which is due to be launched in 2024, is already equipped with the technical pre-requisites for future megawatt charging systems. ABB E-mobility, as a renowned global provider of charging solutions, intends to bring such charging systems to market quickly.
Megawatt charging will require new power technology with more than 1,000 volts"
Frank Mühlon, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABB E-mobility, said “We aim to facilitate electro-mobility in all areas. At ABB E-mobility, we have been working on developing the corresponding performance standards for many years. Megawatt charging will require new power technology with more than 1,000 volts, so systemic electrical safety and reliability are essential at these power levels and for the foreseeable use cases.”
Frank Mühlon adds, “ABB E-mobility is the ideal provider to take on these challenges, as we can significantly accelerate research and development, based on our existing technologies. Our shared ambition is to bring this new technology to market within three years. In the past, such development phases have often taken much longer.”
Binding, uniform standard for megawatt charging technology
A binding and uniform standard is also crucial for the introduction of megawatt charging technology. Germany could set benchmarks here: more than 20 partners from industry and science, including MAN and ABB, are working on the high-performance charging project (known as ‘HoLa’ in German), which is funded by the German government and is the world's first megawatt charging project.
Two high-performance charging points with megawatt charging systems (MCS) are being built at four locations along the A2 federal highway. The project is intended to serve as the basis for nationwide expansion.