MAN Truck & Bus has successfully demonstrated megawatt-level charging for its electric trucks during a winter test in Sweden, highlighting how the next generation of heavy-vehicle charging infrastructure could significantly reduce downtime for fleets.
The demonstration took place at the Kempower MCS Live Winter Days 2026 in Norrköping, where a MAN eTGX electric truck charged at around 750 kW using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) under sub-zero conditions. The test showed the vehicle could charge from 10% to 90% in approximately 30 minutes, a milestone for long-distance electric freight operations.
For heavy transport fleets, charging speed is critical to maintaining utilisation rates and driver schedules. Megawatt charging is designed to address this challenge by delivering significantly higher charging power than today’s DC fast chargers.
Designed for long-distance freight
The demonstration focused on interoperability between the truck and charging infrastructure, which is essential for the industrial rollout of megawatt charging across Europe and other global markets.
MAN is working with multiple charging-station manufacturers to ensure its electric trucks can operate reliably across different charging networks. Testing in winter conditions was deliberate, as cold weather presents additional technical challenges for batteries, power electronics and charging hardware.
Sven Steckhan, Program Lead Charging at MAN Truck & Bus, said the trials confirmed the robustness of the technology.
“The MAN eTruck has proven the stability of the MCS charging process during the live demonstrations in Sweden, including controlled charging performance and secure communication between vehicle and charger,” said Steckhan.
“All our tests confirm the robustness of hardware and software integration and underline the maturity of MCS technology for future series production.”
MCS option available from 2026
MAN confirmed that its new electric truck models — the MAN eTGX and MAN eTGS — can already be ordered with the Megawatt Charging System option. Production of trucks equipped with the MCS interface is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
The availability of MCS is seen as a key step in enabling battery-electric trucks to compete with diesel in long-haul freight operations. Faster charging reduces vehicle downtime and improves fleet productivity, making electric trucks more viable for transport operators running tight delivery schedules.
Implications for fleet operators
For organisations planning the transition to zero-emission heavy vehicles, megawatt charging could play an important role in operational planning.
High-power charging allows electric trucks to replenish large battery packs during driver rest breaks, helping fleets maintain vehicle availability while complying with work-time regulations. It also reduces the number of chargers required at depots and public charging sites because vehicles spend less time connected to infrastructure.
Events such as the Kempower MCS Live Winter Days bring together truck manufacturers, charging providers and industry stakeholders to test these systems in real-world conditions. According to MAN, the results demonstrate how megawatt charging can expand the operational possibilities of electric trucks while improving charging efficiency and fleet economics.
As production of MCS-equipped trucks begins in 2026, the technology is expected to become a key enabler of the electrification of long-distance freight transport.
- CEFC Backs Electric Refrigeration for Australian Cold Chain Fleets
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed up to $10 million to accelerate the introduction of low-emissions electric transport refrigeration across Australia’s cold chain logistics sector. The investment will support the deployment of more than 100 Sunswap Endurance units across refrigerated retail and logistics fleets. The units are fully electric and solar-assisted, and are designed - Pilot phase ends: electric trucks move into mainstream fleet useElectric trucks are shifting from small-scale pilots to more meaningful, real-world deployment, as fleets begin to test the technology under operational pressure rather than controlled conditions. Speaking at the Smart Energy Council Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, Alex Grant, Director at ARENA, said the industry is moving beyond early experimentation into a phase where projects are designed
- OUT NOW – Latest Issue of All Things FleetThis issue of the Fleet News Group magazine has a clear focus on heavy vehicles — the trucks, prime movers, and specialised equipment that quietly keep communities running and businesses productive. Whether it’s delivering goods to regional towns, collecting waste from city streets, or supporting construction and emergency services, heavy vehicles are the backbone of modern operations.
- Toyota’s Multi-Pathway Strategy Framed as Risk Management, Not IdeologyToyota has positioned its “multi-pathway” approach to vehicle technology as a pragmatic risk management strategy rather than an ideological stance on electrification, with the company reaffirming clear targets for low and zero-emissions vehicles by the end of the decade. Speaking at the national launch of the sixth-generation RAV4 in April, John Pappas, Vice President of Sales,
- Budget Lifeline for Drivers Ready to Go ElectricFinancially stretched Australian households will have another year to access the full benefits of the Electric Car Discount, with the Albanese Government confirming in the federal budget that it will keep the policy in place before phased changes begin from April 2027. The decision has been welcomed by the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging
