The rollout gives a major boost to the shift towards sustainable mobility in heavy-duty transport, made possible by a pioneering technology: the megawatt charging system (MCS). Plans are in place to install 330 MCS units, each with one megawatt of charging power, across the European Union (EU) by autumn 2028. Each of the 55 locations in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and Hungary will be open to the public 24/7. The charging network is being built by a consortium of E.ON, Voltix and GreenWay, supported by EU funding of more than €70 million.
EU truck manufacturers face steep fines unless they cut carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030, a target that can only be reached through a significant rise in electric truck sales, which in turn depends on reliable, fast-charging infrastructure. A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) predicts that several thousand megawatt charging points will be needed across Europe by 2030. With this expansion underway, Europe is positioning itself as a trailblazer in electric heavy-duty logistics.
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Megawatt chargers complement depot charging and Combined Charging System (CCS) fast-charging points, the latter a standard already used by many battery electric trucks. Depot charging and CCS will remain the dominant methods, as Eurostat data shows that only seven to ten percent of goods travel more than 500 kilometres, with most moving less than 300 kilometres. For shorter daily journeys or regional transport, overnight depot charging or CCS stations of up to 350 kW are sufficient.
HoLa project
In Germany, the HoLa project is testing the new MCS technology under real-world conditions while laying the foundation for a broader rollout. The first official megawatt charging point for heavy e-trucks came into operation at the Lipperland Süd service station on the A2 motorway on 29 September 2025. Drivers can recharge with up to 1.2 MW during a short break or legally required rest period, giving the battery enough charge in 30 to 45 minutes to cover several hundred kilometres. The project brings research, innovation and policy together, with four locations planned across Germany and €12 million in backing from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.
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In December 2025, the European Commission gave the green light for the German government to fund the construction of high-speed truck charging stations (CCS and MCS) in motorway lay-bys, with up to €1.6 billion available. Plans cover up to 725 CCS and 685 MCS charging points.
Ultra-fast charging – a global focal point
Europe is not the only region pushing megawatt charging. In China, Huawei opened a large charging park for heavy e-trucks in 2025, with around 18 charging points delivering up to 1.44 MW each and a combined 100 MW – a clear sign that the Asian market is focusing on high power classes. In North America, demand for public high-performance megawatt chargers is also rising, with initial trials underway at logistics and fleet locations.
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These developments across Europe, China and North America underline just how strategically important the technology has become. Megawatt charging is fast emerging as a cornerstone of the mobility transition, and Power2Drive Europe puts the leading systems and operators in one place. Leading industry players will showcase their high-power charging systems in hall C6, while the afternoon of the Power2Drive Europe Conference on 22 June is devoted to grid integration. The international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility runs at Messe München as part of The smarter E Europe, the continent's largest alliance of energy exhibitions, with around 2,800 exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors expected. (hcn)
