As Designwerk Technologies AG reports, for the first time a charging method for electric trucks under real-world conditions has been tested that reaches a power output of more than one megawatt. The test took place from July 28 to July 31 on the site of the National Roads Area VI in Oberbüren, Switzerland, and was part of a demonstration project supported by the Federal Office of Energy. The aim was to demonstrate the practicality of the so-called Megawatt Charging System.
Charging power above the target value
According to Designwerk, the prototype achieved a peak power of 1,140 kilowatts. This value is eight percent above the originally specified target value of 1,050 kilowatts. In test operation, in 42 minutes 625 kilowatt-hours of energy flowed into the traction battery of the test vehicle. This allowed the
state of charge to be increased from ten to eighty percent. The average charging power was 906 kilowatts, the maximum charging current was 1,530 amperes. The previously commercially available charging power for electric trucks is around 350 kilowatts.
Vehicle and charging infrastructure
The tested vehicle was a prototype on an 800-volt platform with a total battery capacity of 1,000 kilowatt-hours, divided into four modules. It was charged via the Megawatt Charging System, a container-based solution with integrated buffer storage. These storage units relieve the power grid by absorbing peak loads and storing locally generated solar power. According to the information, both new batteries and second-life systems from decommissioned electric trucks can be used.
Range and practicality
The results would show that a 40-ton truck can be charged under real-world conditions within a time window
that corresponds to drivers' mandated rest periods, according to Designwerk. The amount of energy loaded during the test is sufficient for a range of more than 500 kilometers.
„A 40-tonner charges thanks to Mega Charging as quickly as an electric car — only with significantly more power. That is the key to electrifying heavy-duty road transport,” explained Niels Ross, Project Manager for Charging Technology at Designwerk.
Theoretically, daily ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers are possible.
Partners and project participants
Participating in the project besides Designwerk are Galliker Transport AG as pilot customer and the operator of the test site, the National Roads Area VI. Technical support comes from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland, and Wyssmann LLC.
Significance for the industry
The test results, according
to the company, mark a decisive step for the deployment of electric trucks in long-haul transport. For operators of charging infrastructure, the container-based solution offers the advantage that megawatt charging stations can be provided without extensive grid expansion. Designwerk also announced that in the coming months it will integrate additional features for intelligent control and grid integration. In parallel, a small-series production of the systems is already underway.
Market development
According to the Federal Office of Energy, the number of registered battery-electric trucks in Switzerland is rising noticeably. In the first half of 2025, the increase compared with the previous year was more than 40 percent. The results achieved in the demonstration project are likely to further support the trend, as they create a central prerequisite for the use of heavy-duty electric trucks in
