The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and its partners in the NEFTON project demonstrated prototypes of megawatt charging systems (MCS) for heavy-duty long-distance trucks. With the new charging post and truck, it will now be possible for the first time to charge the battery sufficiently for 4.5 hours of operation within the regulatory rest period—with no additional waiting time.

In Germany around 70% of freight transport in terms of volume and distance takes place on the road, mainly with diesel-powered trucks. This has a considerable environmental impact. 40% of transport-related emissions of 148 million tons of CO₂ relate to freight transport. Consequently, a switch from diesel to electric power would yield substantial benefits. The research consortium NEFTON is working on the needed technical and infrastructure solutions under the leadership of the Chair of Automotive Technology of the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Along with TUM and truck manufacturer MAN, the following partners are participating in the NEFTON project consortium: AVL Software and Functions GmbH, Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft e.V. (FfE), Fraunhofer ISE, Prettl Electronics Automotive, Deggendorf Institute of Technology. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The NEFTON project has investigated the use of electric trucks in the real-world logistics process. The consortium worked with four freight forwarding companies to analyze various areas of application—from local distribution to long-distance transport. The results show that, for distribution and regional shipping, most charging can take place at the freight forwarder’s premises.

However, long-distance transport operations will require a network of high-powered truck charging stations at highway rest stops and parking areas. The results show that charging posts capable of delivering peak power of 1 megawatt should be installed every 50 km along core highway routes. This can eliminate all time losses from charging.

In a research setting, charging outputs of up to 3 megawatts have been studied. This would greatly improve flexibility in everyday use. It would also make it possible to install smaller batteries, which would reduce costs and yield ecological benefits. The NEFTON project will now investigate these future prospects.