Megawatt charging has officially come to Germany's famed Autobahn A2 thanks to the efforts of ABB-E mobility, the German Federal Ministry of Transport, the EU, and the country's High-power charging in long-distance lorry transport project (HoLa).
For now, just one Megawatt Charging System (MCS) has been installed and activated as a proof of concept at the Lipperland Sud service area. The plan is to have a corridor of eight MCS and ten Combined Charging System (CCS) charging points across five sites
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The inauguration event brought together industry and research partners, highlighting the strong collaboration behind the project. State Secretary Christian Hirte from the Ministry of Transport attended the inauguration, stressing its importance in advancing Germany’s position as a leader in zero-emission mobility.
"Sustainable logistics is not a given—it is system-critical and at the heart of our mobility ecosystem. That's why electric long-distance heavy-duty transport must work seamlessly from day one, without downtime," said Michael Bultmann, managing director at ABB E-mobility in Germany.
ABB-E mobility's involvement
The Lipperland Sud charger underscores ABB E-mobility's strategy to lead in megawatt charging. Following the April launch of its compact and powerful MCS 1200 system, ABB demonstrated three e-trucks charging between 650 and 695 kW—proof that MCS technology can make long-haul electric transport both practical and efficient.
[Related: ABB E-mobility's new EV chargers address crucial industry challenges]
ABB E-mobility is helping develop and test the MCS as a key consortium partner in the German HoLa project. HoLa is specifically targeting the needs of long-haul heavy-duty trucking, aiming to allow trucks to recharge during the mandatory 45-minute driver break.
ABB E-mobility
By completion, the project will establish a charging corridor of ten CCS and eight MCS points at five sites, including motorway stops and logistics hubs. Crucially, four truck OEMs are providing eight CCS and four MCS trucks for real-world testing in logistics operations.
ABB E-mobility is a key partner in ZEFES, a European project focused on advancing long-haul freight solutions. ZEFES, which stands for Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platforms with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System, aims to test operations up to 1,300 kilometers per day, develop modular vehicle concepts with ranges up to 750 kilometers per charge, and demonstrate interoperable MCS interfaces. The project also includes exploring digital tools like a "Digital Twin" to facilitate fleet integration.
[Related: MAN, ABB E‑mobility complete major Megawatt Charging System test]
