EnergIIZE Brings the Benefit of the Megawatt Charging System to Fleets Across California
Over the past four years, the California Energy Commission’s Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission (EnergIIZE) Commercial Vehicles project has helped transform how medium- and heavy-duty (MDHD) zero-emission fleets access charging infrastructure across California. By lowering barriers to adoption and accelerating deployment, EnergIIZE has played a key role in helping fleets make the transition to cleaner transportation.
Now, EnergIIZE is building that momentum through partnerships with multiple equipment partners, bringing even more advanced charging solutions to the market. Together, the partners are expanding access to Megawatt Charging System (MCS) infrastructure, which enables fleets to reenergize vehicles at significantly faster rates than traditional charging systems. The result is more time on the road, improved vehicle productivity, and reduced downtime for commercial operations.
According to CALSTART Project Manager for EV Infrastructure Incentive Development Ian Cadger, the impact of MCS on fleet operations can be substantial. “The Megawatt Charging System enables fleets for faster turnaround of vehicles as well as quicker turnover of charger usage,” Cadger said. With charging speeds of up to 1.2 megawatt-hours per charger, he noted that MCS “can make a dramatic difference in route completion for fleets.”
CALSTART Project Manager for EV Infrastructure Incentive Development Ian Cadger
Those faster charging speeds translate directly into operational efficiency. By reducing the amount of time vehicles spend plugged in, MCS allows fleets to keep trucks moving and routes on schedule. Less time spent charging means more time you can spend fulfilling routes. Faster charging also means vehicles can begin charging almost immediately upon arrival, which compounds the efficiency gains. “The combined benefits greatly reduce the downtime of a fleet’s vehicles, enabling a larger amount of freight to be moved in a given amount of time,” says Cadger.
Early adopters of MCS may also see meaningful competitive advantages. Cadger pointed out that fleets that invest early will be the first to benefit from the system’s high throughput. “Early adopters of MCS will be the first to gain advantage of the high throughput mentioned above,” he said, adding that this could “set new standards in the amount of freight and routes a fleet can fulfill,” particularly in markets such as freight, drayage, and regional haul.
While MCS adoption is still in its early stages, real-world applications are already demonstrating its potential. Cadger pointed to Tesla’s collaboration with Frito-Lay as a compelling example. The use of MCS with Tesla’s semi has allowed for increased stress testing and enabled vehicles to travel farther within the same timeframe compared to similar battery-electric semis using CCS charging.
Looking ahead, Cadger is optimistic about how MCS adoption will evolve across California. As utility capacity continues to expand, he expects the state’s charging infrastructure to better support higher-powered systems without strain. “As utility capacity increases to accommodate the higher charging speeds of MCS, more BEV semis will be able to come online without straining the charging infrastructure capacity,” he said.
With the help of its dedicated partners, EnergIIZE is helping ensure California fleets are prepared for the future. Here’s to faster charging, higher throughput, and zero-emission vehicles working together to keep goods moving efficiently across the state.