Electric Truck Charging Needs More Than Megawatts, Says Industry Veteran
MCS standard is now published for all vehicle types, but heavy-duty fleets still lack dedicated charging sites.
Rustam Kocher, former Charging Infrastructure Lead at Daimler Trucks North America and current advocate for heavy-duty electrification, emphasizes that the rollout of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard is only part of the solution for electric trucks. In a recent interview with Charged EVs, Kocher argued that purpose-built charging stations remain the critical bottleneck for fleet adoption.
What Happened
Kocher, who previously chaired CharIN’s MCS task force, confirmed that the Megawatt Charging System has recently become a fully published standard, comparable to CCS. This standardization allows the technology to be adopted not just for trucks, but for any vehicle that "rolls, digs, floats or flies," including excavators, ferries, and eVTOL aircraft. Kocher noted that at least 30 charger manufacturers now offer MCS hardware, and major European OEMs such as Mercedes, Volvo, and TRATON brands are integrating the standard into their series production vehicles.
Why It Matters
For the commercial vehicle sector, the shift to MCS promises lower operating costs and greater interoperability. Kocher highlighted that marine electrification, previously hindered by expensive bespoke designs and long repair downtimes, can now leverage MCS chargers from multiple vendors for on-the-spot maintenance. However, the infrastructure gap remains significant for land-based transport. Kocher stated that "you can’t pull a big rig into a standard light-duty charging site and charge," underscoring the need for dedicated heavy-duty sites. While companies like WattEV and Terawatt are emerging as key providers, many fleets are adopting "charging-as-a-service" models to manage costs gradually.
Kocher also addressed the competitive landscape, noting that while Tesla Semi orders from firms like WattEV and Einride signal strong demand, production capacity may become a constraint. Conversely, legacy OEMs are facing a lack of orders and are lobbying for regulatory delays in Europe, a move Kocher criticized as counterproductive compared to the price adjustments seen during the light-duty EV transition.
The Bottom Line
The MCS standard is now widely available and expanding beyond trucks to other heavy-duty applications, but the lack of dedicated charging infrastructure continues to slow the electrification of commercial fleets. While hardware options are growing, the industry must build specific heavy-duty sites to support the increasing number of electric trucks on the road.
