Quick Charge: The Mega Charging Station from Designwerk, housed in a container with two 2 charging outlets and a battery storage unit, allows electric trucks to be quickly charged in just 45 minutes. (Source: Designwerk Technologies AG) 
Technology

Designwerk’s Megawatt And Mobile Chargers For Heavy-Duty EVs

Megawatt Charging System offers rapid charging for electric trucks in just 45 minutes with a 2,000 kWh battery unit

Shravan Chunduri

  • Switzerland’s Designwerk wins E-Mobility Award 2024 for fast, high-capacity truck charging systems during Intersolar Europe 2024

  • Its mobile DC fast charger MDC 88-920 provides up to 84 kW charging, supports 7 charging standards, and is compact and lightweight

  • Both MCS and the mobile charger feature advanced thermal management and modular designs for deployment flexibility, meeting rigorous standards across various vehicle types and locations

The Megawatt Battery Charging System developed by Winterthur, Switzerland-based Designwerk Technologies won The smarter E AWARD 2024 in the E-Mobility category. The charging device, which is contained in a container with 2 charging outlets and a battery storage unit, enables electric trucks to be quickly charged in 45 minutes. A battery storage unit with 2,000 kWh of energy and a discharge rating of 1.4-2.1 MW is part of the system. The MCS (Megawatt Charging System) or CCS (Combined Charging System) plugs are included with the liquid-cooled charging stations. When using CCS, the charging capacity is limited to 200 to 350 kW. The battery storage unit can use NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) or LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries, with an option to use second-life batteries.

This system is ideal for trucks, buses, and other vehicles that follow the MCS standard. The battery storage reduces the grid connection power needed for the charging station to between 88 and 400 kW, depending on the configuration. This reduces the impact on the power grid while still providing fast charging for heavy-duty vehicles.

The DC output allows for up to 3,000 A, 500-900 V, with a maximum output of 2,100 kW. The thermal management system uses water and air cooling, with temperature-dependent regulation. The entire system is transportable in a container according to UN38.3 regulations, making it easy to deploy in various locations.

Another product from the company, the 88-920 mobile DC fast charger, designed for fast charging of trucks, buses, airplanes, and ships with a capacity of 88kW, was also a finalist in the E-Mobility category. According to the company, the charger features advanced SiC semiconductors, an efficient air-cooling system, and over 96% efficiency even at just 15% load. It supports 7 charging standards, including CCS, CHAdeMO, GB/T, NACS, and MCS, providing versatility across various vehicle types. Key features include a charging capacity of up to 84 kW at 1,000 V, the ability to charge 500 kWh batteries in under 4 hours, and a compact design that is up to 65% smaller than similar devices, making it highly portable. The MDC 88-920 is ideal for vehicle depots, such as those used for waste collection or sewer cleaning, and can charge 2 vehicles simultaneously with 42 kW each. It offers flexibility for use in multiple locations, simplified charging management, and diagnostics. Its dimensions are 780 x 580 x 1,000 mm (without castors), and it weighs 183 kg (without the cable).