First HoLa Megawatt Charging Site Opens along German Autobahn A2
A major step forward for zero-emission heavy-duty transport was marked today along the German Autobahn A2: the official opening of the first Megawatt Charging System (MCS) point under the publicly funded “HoLa - High-power charging in long-distance lorry transport” project.
The charger at Lipperland Süd service area, providing one of eight MCS points, was delivered and commissioned by ABB E-mobility as a Proof of Concept unit, demonstrating the readiness of MCS technology for real-world operations. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and the EU, HoLa is designed to validate MCS under operational conditions and gather critical insights for the wider rollout of Germany’s and Europe’s heavy-duty charging network across.
A Joint Effort for System-Critical Logistics
The inauguration brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including consortium partners from industry and research underlining the collaborative nature of the effort. Among the guests was State Secretary at the Minister of Transport, Christian Hirte who highlighted the strategic importance of the project for Germany’s leadership in zero-emission transport.
“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 Bültmann, Managing Director at ABB E-mobility in Germany.
ABB E-mobility’s Role and Broader Commitment
For ABB E-mobility, the charger at Lipperland Süd is part of a broader strategy to shape the future of megawatt charging. In parallel with HoLa, the company has taken major steps in product development and launched its new MCS1200 solution only in April. The MCS1200 is a compact, powerful, and flexible system tailored to the needs of fleet operators, CPOs, and drivers alike.
As part of the opening, guests witnessed live charging demonstrations of three MCS-ready e-trucks with different SoC (State of Charge) charging between 650 and 695 kW. This marks another proof point that MCS can be seamlessly integrated into mandatory driver breaks, making long-haul electric transport both practical and efficient.
About HoLa
Within HoLa, ABB E-mobility is one of several consortium partners developing and testing the foundations of MCS in Germany. The project addresses the unique challenges of long-haul heavy-duty trucking, where trucks must recharge during the mandatory 45-minute driver break. By the end of HoLa, a corridor of ten CCS and eight MCS charging points across five sites will be operational, some at motorway service areas, others directly integrated into logistics hubs. Four truck OEMs are contributing a total of eight CCS and four MCS trucks, ensuring real-world testing in logistics operations.
Beyond testing technology, HoLa also generates data and learnings which are key for a broader rollout in the future – be it on site configurations, energy integration interoperability or to identify challenges:
“HoLa demonstrates Germany’s and Europe’s market-leading position in sustainable heavy-duty trucking,” said Bültmann. “The project proves that the industry is ready to deliver, provided the regulatory and infrastructure frameworks keep pace.” The timing of the opening is significant as Germany pre-pares its upcoming truck tenders, which are expected to play a decisive role in kicking off the first wave of large-scale electric fleet adoption.
Next Step ZEFES: Electrifying Long-Haul Transport across Europe
ABB E-mobility is also an active partner in the project ZEFES (Zero Emissions flexible vehicle platforms with modular powertrains serving the long-haul Freight Eco System). The European-wide project fo-cuses on testing long-distance operations of up to 1,300 kilometers per day, developing modular vehicle concepts with ranges of up to 750 kilometers per charge, and demonstrating interoperable MCS interfaces. In addition, digital tools such as a “Digital Twin” are being explored to support fleet integration.
Together, these projects underline ABB E-mobility’s role in making MCS and heavy-duty electrification interoperable, reliable, and ready for scale across Europe.
Find more information about HoLa and the latest updates from ABB E-mobility on MCS here:
Put Through its Paces: MAN and ABB E‑mobility Conduct Landmark MCS Test Week
HoLa Project Website
