With three new charging products, ABB E-Mobility continues its platform strategy, aiming to make it easier for fleet operators in road freight transport to switch to electric drives. The new models – A200/A300, ChargeDock Dispenser, and MCS1200 –, announced by ABB E-Mobility in a recent press release, are aimed at high scalability, improved serviceability, and reliable operating times. The basis is a modular system architecture which, according to ABB, minimizes failures and reduces maintenance efforts.
Megawatt Charging Highly Exciting for Logistics Companies
The new developments are intended for different applications – from public charging infrastructure to depot solutions for electric buses and high-power charging for heavy-duty vehicles. Of particular interest to transport and logistics service providers is the megawatt charging system MCS1200. It delivers up to 1,200 kW of continuous power and, according to the information, was developed in close coordination with leading truck manufacturers. This ensures that even
heavy electric vehicles can charge enough energy for the next stage during the statutory rest periods for drivers.
ABB CEO Michael Halbherr emphasizes:
“The charging infrastructure is evolving beyond isolated solutions – we are building platforms that offer consistency in operation, reliability, and scalability across the entire ecosystem.”
The company is shifting the majority of its development resources to modular platforms, which increases quality and speeds up development cycles. The new architecture also enables close collaboration with suppliers.
Freight Transport as an Innovation Field of Electrification
ABB sees road freight transport as a crucial innovation field for electrification. The company points to a global market potential of 35 billion US dollars by 2030. The new platform architecture is designed to cover cross-segment requirements while providing specific solutions.
The technical basis consists of four logically separated subsystems: user experience, energy transfer, mechatronics, and cloud connectivity. This separation allows for individual
updates and reduces the risk of a complete failure, according to Halbherr.
“Unlike conventional chargers, where a defect in the user interface cripples the entire system, our charging process remains active even then,” explains the CEO.
The company aims for an operational availability of 99 percent – a key factor for logistics companies with tight time constraints.
Special Solution for Depot Applications
Another component in the new portfolio is the Chargedock solution for depot applications. In conjunction with the already available HVC 360 system, it enables flexible configurations, such as with pantographs or column solutions. The charging power is up to 360 kW with a distance of up to 150 meters between the power unit and the charging point. The dispenser delivers up to 500 amperes continuously.
The new A200 and A300 models are designed for public charging points. They can be upgraded in the field from 200 to
300 or 400 kW. This is intended to protect investments and allow for more economical use over ten years. In retail, the C50 complements the offering – a particularly compact charger for locations with short dwell times.
Cross-Brand Design
In addition to the technology, ABB places value on cross-brand design options. The user interface can be customized, for example, with logos, colors, and language selection. The hardware of the new platform generation has already been awarded several design prizes.
ABB also promises fleet operators advantages in maintenance and service: Standardized components should make repairs up to six times faster than with conventional systems. Moreover, each charger is connected to the manufacturer's cloud-based asset management platform, enabling 24/7 monitoring and on-site service within 24 hours.
ABB E-Mobility plans to present the new products for the first time at the ACT Expo in Anaheim and subsequently in May at Power2Drive in
