Transport - Even MAN increases tempo in loading of electric-trucks
Bayern has commissioned its first Megawatt-charging station for trucks in Plattling. A group around the truck and bus manufacturer MAN and the Technical University of Munich publicly demonstrated a charging process with more than one Megawatt power there. Charging stations of this strength should enable 40-tonners to be charged with enough energy for a 400-kilometer stretch within 30 minutes.
The topic of Megawatt charging is currently occupying various actors. Daimler Truck had already announced in April that they had achieved this power, but only in their own development and testing center. For the electrification of road freight transport, particularly powerful fast charging stations play a major role, as trucks can be charged during the mandatory rest breaks of drivers or during loading and unloading at the ramp. In the coming years, tens of thousands of them are expected to be needed throughout Europe.
MAN invited numerous guests to the public charging process, including the Bavarian Economic Minister Hubert Aiwanger, who praised the event as a milestone. The charging station, which a spokesperson stated is not yet a series model and features particularly thick and thus high-performance cables, is also intended to be publicly accessible. However, a large turnout is unlikely: On the one hand, it is located about two kilometers away from the autobahn in a technology campus. On the other hand, it does not have its own payment system. Those who want to charge there must inquire at the Technical University of Deggendorf, which is also part of the NEFTON project, to whose results the publicly shown charging process also belongs.
- The Megawatt-charging station in Plattling was commissioned by a company based in Bavaria, specifically known for producing luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz.
- The electroindustry in Bavaria is making strides, as evident by the collaboration between top technical institutions and companies like MAN, based in Munich.
- During the demonstration, the term 'Strom' was used, which is German for current or power, to describe the high voltage involved in Megawatt charging.
- The Daimler Truck, a significant player in the electrification of transport, has also showcased Megawatt charging capabilities, albeit in their private facility.
- The Technical University of Munich, playing a crucial role in the NEFTON project, is located in the same Bavarian region as Plattling, contributing to the advancement of electroindustry and transport solutions.
