With three new charging products, ABB E-Mobility continues its platform strategy and aims to facilitate the transition to electric drives, especially for fleet operators in road freight transport. The new models – A200/A300, ChargeDock Dispenser, and MCS1200 –, announced by ABB E-Mobility in a recent press release, target high scalability, improved serviceability, and reliable operating times. The foundation is a modular system architecture that, according to ABB, minimizes failures and reduces maintenance efforts.
The new developments are intended for different application areas – from public charging infrastructure and depot solutions for e-buses to high-performance charging for heavy-duty vehicles.
Of particular interest to transport and logistics service providers is the megawatt charging system MCS1200. It delivers up to 1,200 kW of continuous power and, according to the specifications, was developed in close coordination with leading truck manufacturers. This should allow heavy electric
vehicles to charge enough energy for the next stage during the drivers' legally required rest periods.
ABB CEO Michael Halbherr emphasizes:
“The charging infrastructure is evolving beyond isolated solutions – we are building platforms that offer consistency in operation, reliability, and scalability across the entire ecosystem.”
The company is shifting the majority of its development resources to modular platforms, which increases quality and accelerates development cycles. The new architecture also enables close collaboration with suppliers.
In road freight transport, ABB sees a crucial innovation field for electrification. The company points to a global market potential of 35 billion USD by 2030. The new platform architecture is designed to meet cross-segment requirements while providing specific solutions.
The technical basis consists of four logically separated subsystems: user experience, energy transfer, mechatronics, and cloud connectivity. This separation allows for individual updates and reduces the
risk of a complete failure, according to Halbherr.
“Unlike conventional chargers, where a defect on the user interface cripples the entire system, our charging process remains active,” explains the CEO.
The company aims for an operational availability of 99 percent – a central factor for logistics companies under high time pressure.
Another component in the new portfolio is the Chargedock solution for depot applications. In conjunction with the already available HVC 360 system, it enables flexible configurations, such as with pantographs or column solutions. The charging power reaches up to 360 kW with a distance of up to 150 meters between the power unit and the charging point. The dispenser delivers a continuous 500 amperes.
The new A200 and A300 models are designed for public charging points. They can be upgraded in the field from 200 to 300 or 400 kW.
This is intended to protect investments and enable more economical use over ten years. In retail, the C50 complements the offering – a particularly compact charger for locations with short dwell times.
Apart from technology, ABB places importance on cross-brand customization options. The user interface can be individually adjusted, for example, with logos, colors, and language selection. The hardware of the new platform generation has already been awarded multiple design awards.
ABB also promises fleet operators advantages in maintenance and service: standardized components make repairs up to six times faster than conventional systems. Additionally, each charger is connected to the manufacturer's cloud-based asset management platform, allowing for 24/7 monitoring and on-site service within 24 hours.
ABB E-Mobility plans to present the new products for the first time at the ACT Expo in Anaheim, and subsequently in May at Power2Drive in Munich.
