Germany inaugurated its first Megawatt Charging System (MCS) point for heavy-duty electric trucks along the Autobahn A2, marking a milestone in the development of zero-emission long-haul transport. The charger, located at the Lipperland Süd service area, was delivered and commissioned by ABB E-mobility as part of the HoLa project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and the European Union.
The Proof of Concept unit demonstrated charging rates between 650-695 kW for three MCS-ready electric trucks during mandatory 45-minute driver breaks. The HoLa initiative aims to validate MCS technology under real-world conditions, collecting data to inform the expansion of charging networks across Germany and Europe.
The project will eventually feature eight MCS points across five sites, including motorway service areas and logistics hubs, alongside ten CCS charging points. The consortium behind HoLa includes industry partners, research institutions, and four truck OEMs, providing a mix of MCS and CCS-compatible vehicles.
ABB E-mobility, which launched its MCS1200 solution in April, said the system integrates into standard fleet operations, supporting interoperability, energy management, and data collection for future infrastructure planning. The project also aligns with broader European efforts to enable large-scale adoption of electric heavy-duty vehicles.
The HoLa project complements ABB’s ZEFES initiative, which tests zero-emission long-haul freight operations over distances up to 1,300 kilometers daily using modular vehicles with 750-kilometer ranges. Together, the programs aim to ensure scalable, reliable, and interoperable charging solutions for Europe’s heavy-duty electric trucking sector.