WattEV has big plans for Megawatt charging

Nov 27, 2024

WattEV is continuing its pursuit to make Megawatt charging the new EV truck charging standard, allowing for these vehicles to receive a full charge in less than 30 minutes.

WattEV

Megawatt charging is critical to the success of battery-electric, long-haul semi trucks such as the upcoming Tesla Semi. This technology enables heavy-duty electric vehicles, including Class 8 semis, to receive a full charge in less than 30 minutes. Familiar industry player ChargePoint, for example, recently unveiled its own Megawatt Charging System (MCS).

And now WattEV, a Trucking as a Service (TaaS) company and one of the country's biggest developers of medium- and heavy-duty truck charging depots, has teamed up with Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) to finalize Megawatt charging as its new charging standard.

Speaking at a gathering earlier this week at WattEV's 4-acre charging depot in San Bernardino, California - the busiest of the company's five depots - CEO Salim Youssefzadeh told the audience that "Reaching parity in refueling dwell time between zero-emission (ZE) trucks and diesel trucks is critical to the successful transition of the truck transportation industry to zero emissions."

Without Megawatt charging, heavy-duty EV truck drivers could face charging times upwards of two hours, a major detriment to overall efficiency. Fortunately, international alignment on the MCS charging standard is closer than ever.

"With the proliferation of new EV models and the introduction of two new charging standards – the North American Charging System (NACS) and MCS – there has never been a more important time for the industry to align and ensure EV drivers have an optimal charging experience. We want to thank WattEV for hosting these critical testing events," added Erika H. Myers, CharIN North America executive director.

WattEV's influence in California continues to expand with its EV truck charging depots strategically located at critical transportation corridors, specifically along Interstate 5, I-10, and I-15. To date, WattEV's fleet has run more than a million zero-emission miles.

Jay Traugott has covered the automotive and transportation sector for over a decade and now serves as Senior Editor for Clean Trucking. He holds a drifting license and has driven on some of the world's best race tracks, including the Nurburgring and Spa. He lives near Boulder, Colorado, and spends his free time snowboarding, climbing, and hiking. He can be reached at [email protected].

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