CharIN, the organisation promoting global standardisation of charging interfaces, said it is making progress on technical frameworks for the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), with mining and maritime applications advancing most quickly. The group said its work is intended to support higher-efficiency charging solutions and help reduce emissions in sectors with high energy demand.
Electrification is accelerating in mining, particularly for large dump trucks that can account for 30% to 80% of a site’s total energy use. CharIN is working with the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) to establish harmonised standards for heavy-duty charging. One outcome is the development of the Dynamic Charging Interface, a system enabling charging while vehicles are in motion, which the group said “reduces downtime and significantly increases efficiency.” New standards — including R-MCS for extreme operating conditions and X-MCS for the largest machinery — are being designed to support mines targeting lower emissions.
CharIN said the sector continues to face challenges around infrastructure readiness, interoperability and integration of electric fleets into existing operations. Through its Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles initiative, the association is coordinating pilot projects with operators, manufacturers and technology partners to address these issues and support long-term deployment of zero-emission fleets.
In maritime transport, CharIN’s Marine Task Force is defining global specifications for CCS and MCS-compatible shore power. The work builds on a previous MCS Vessels project conducted with Crowley, Black & Veatch and ABS, backed by the U.S. Maritime Administration. The current effort aims to support battery-electric and hybrid vessels while enabling a scalable port-side charging infrastructure. The task force is focusing on harmonised interfaces to ensure systems from different providers can operate together. It is working with shipyards, ports and utilities and referencing existing technologies such as Ethernet 10Base-T1S to manage development costs.
Specialised subgroups have been formed to focus on electrical safety, port electrification, communication, testing and deployment scenarios, reflecting the group’s push for unified standards across global shipping.
CharIN continues to validate MCS performance through its Testival events. In June 2025, it conducted full-system MCS tests for heavy commercial vehicles with Advantics, Scania and Stäubli, which the organisation described as a milestone for interoperability work. MCS validation will expand at upcoming events as the technology moves toward commercial application.
The association is also preparing to extend its efforts into aviation amid growing interest in electric vertical-take-off aircraft. CharIN plans to establish CCS and MCS as global standards for charging aviation applications and to provide implementation guidelines aimed at building a scalable, interoperable infrastructure for future electric aircraft.