Vector Informatik in Germany has begun series production of its communication controller for the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).
The vSECC.MCS controller is aimed at charging infrastructure manufacturers developing production-ready MCS systems for fast charging of large electric trucks.
This is driving significantly higher charging capacities are required compared to conventional systems. MCS is designed to rapidly recharge large vehicle batteries during short downtimes, such as legally mandated driving breaks. A key enabler of this process is communication between the charging point and the vehicle, handled by the communication controller.
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The controller supports charging powers of up to 3.75MW to charge a typical truck battery to 80 percent in around 45 minutes.
The communication interface is based on the international ISO 15118-20 standard and uses Ethernet-based communication. The connector system complies with the IEC TS 63379 technical specification and the controller also supports the existing Combined Charging System (CCS) connector specification to provide backward compatibility with existing vehicles and to charge two vehicles simultaneously at a single station.
The controller has been tested in the field for the last year under real-world conditions across various system environments, and customer feedback was incorporated into product refinement. The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests on the final prototypes were successfully completed, clearing the way for series production. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2025.
vSECC.MCS builds on the same hardware platform as Vector’s proven CCS controller, vSECC, and shares a common firmware base. This allows existing designs to be easily extended and new MCS systems to be developed quickly.
“With vSECC.MCS, we are bringing a field-proven communication controller for MCS into series production. Our development focused on robust communication, seamless system integration, and fast availability. Thanks to our close collaboration with pilot customers, we were able to tailor the product closely to real-world requirements,” said Dr. Omar Abu Mohareb, Product Manager for Communication Controllers at Vector.
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