Next MCS Milestone Achieved: ABB E-mobility and MAN Truck & Bus Successfully Test Megawatt Charging with Ethernet-Based Communication

In collaboration with MAN Truck & Bus, ABB E-mobility has successfully completed their first  MCS charging tests using Ethernet-based communication, standardized in ISO-15118-20 and the only recently released ISO-15118-10. These standards define the communication protocol used in MCS charging.

Ensuring a Smooth Transition to Megawatt Charging

While MCS-ready trucks and chargers are about to come up for sales and the MCS standard is nearly finalized, earlier implementations and megawatt-level trials still relied on communication methods used for CCS-charging. Integrating Ethernet-based communication offers greater reliability and seamless interoperability for high-power applications.

"Our actual MCS test with the newest communication standards with Ethernet confirms the viability and reliability of MCS charging, marking the next major step toward a robust, industry-wide megawatt charging network. Logistics companies must trust that megawatt charging will work reliably from day one – and these successful tests prove that MCS is ready to deliver,” said Marcel Hessel, Unit Manager Charging Systems & Components at MAN Truck & Bus. 

The testing took place at MAN in Munich, where full MCS capability was demonstrated using proof-of-concept chargers built on the Terra High Power platform. With charging sessions exceeding 700V and 1,000A the results validated system stability for long-duration, high-power charging – critical for fleet operators relying on minimal downtime and maximized efficiency.

With this milestone, ABB E-mobility and MAN have demonstrated that the industry is ready for the transition to a fully standardized MCS system: "Reaching this 1,000A milestone with the fully standardized MCS charging interface based on Ethernet communication using latest protocols was a major achievement! This test highlights our strong cooperation with MAN and our shared commitment to enabling reliable, economic, and sustainable transport," said Christopher Thompson, Head of Product Marketing at ABB E-mobility.