The Grid-Standard Paradox: Why MCS Needs a Brain, Not Just a Bigger Pipe

The moment of truth for heavy-duty electric transport has arrived. With the finalisation of IEC 63379, the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard has made the leap from pilot to policy.

We now have the hardware ceiling: 1,250V, a staggering 3,000A continuous current, and a peak theoretical output of 3.75MW per connector. This is a big line under the range and recharge debate for freight. But only on paper.

In reality, we’ve just created a Grid-Standard Paradox.

The standard allows a truck to draw 3.75MW. Fair enough, but let’s put this in perspective.  That’s enough to power three average sized villages. Most depots can’t draw that from their local substation without knocking out the nearest suburb or two. If we treat MCS as just like CCS but bigger, we fall straight back into the dampening loop where grid constraints become the very handy excuse for comfortable inaction.

 But there’s a secret weapon: ISO 15118-20

The most important part of the new standard isn’t the liquid-cooled pins or the 90 C thermal safety triggers—impressive though they are. It’s the mandatory shift to ISO 15118-20 and 10Base-T1S Ethernet.

This protocol is the brain that makes the muscle deployable. And it’s here that MCS completely changes the game.

• Dynamic Intelligence: It enables real-time power adjustment. This allows algorithms to balance the charging load against the Grid’s actual capacity in milliseconds, effectively “erasing” the grid constraint.
• Bi-directional Power (V2X): MCS has native support for V2G. Your fleet isn’t just a cost centre anymore.  It’s a flexible energy asset that can sell energy back to the grid when prices peak or share it into your operation to avoid peak grid tariffs.
• Thermal Sanity: At 3,000 A, heat is the enemy. The new communication layer ensures that safety de-rating isn’t just a shut-down switch, but a data point used to optimize the entire charging schedule.

 The TPS Perspective

CharIN’s standard validates our SMART FLEET charging system’s right to play.

We’re building the charging hardware that meets the1,250V ceiling. We are building the intelligent interface that connect directly with the Grid and orchestrating power through a de-centralised microgrid to fully deliver the dynamic intelligence demanded by the standard to ensure fleets have all the charging power they need when they need it for Ultra-Rapid MCS charging.

The era of Grid Constraint is over.  The era of the SMART FLEET MCS has begun.

If you want to talk more about how our SMART FLEET solution will accelerate your Fleet Electrification journey please drop us a line

Today you need a partner that understands the entire power ecosystem to provide you with solutions which will evolve, adapt, and grow as we move into the ever-changing world of tomorrow. We work closely with Fleet Operators and Energy Organisations to deliver the power of tomorrow. Today.