Designwerk: Mega charger and buffer storage for electric commercial vehicles

Designwerk Technologies AG, headquartered in Winterthur, is adding new fast charging stations in the form of containers to its portfolio. The new charging systems are intended to make electric commercial vehicles suitable for long distances without overloading the power grid. The first megawatt charging station in Switzerland is scheduled to be put into operation at Galliker Transport AG in 2024.

Expanding the charging infrastructure is one of the top issues in the electrification of heavy-duty transport: The transport sector relies on powerful charging technology to charge commercial vehicles quickly enough. Only in this way can decarbonization on long distances as well as in continuous or shift operation succeed. About a year ago, Designwerk Technologies AG announced the development of a particularly powerful charging station as part of a demonstration project. A product developed on this basis was presented at an exclusive event at the company’s headquarters to around eighty industry experts.

DC power of 420 kW each

With the development of the "Mega Charger," the company is expanding its product portfolio to include a battery-buffered charging station with two CCS charging points and a DC power of 420 kW each. The approximately 8.6 m long, 2.55 m wide, and 3 m high container-format charging station is equipped with powerful lithium-ion batteries. With a battery capacity of up to 2 MWh, the system ensures that the power grid is not burdened by load peaks during the charging process. The energy storage systems are also intended to balance the fluctuating energy supply from renewable sources. The sales of the Mega Charger have already begun. The individual charging power and battery capacity are adjusted to meet customer needs.

Demonstration Project Provided Foundation

The technology underlying the charging container comes from an ongoing demonstration project. It aims to construct and test a charging station with a charging power of 1.05 MW per charging point. This endeavor, situated at the intersection of research and market, seeks to increase the maturity of megawatt charging technology in order to bring it to market readiness. The scientific monitoring of this technical innovation is supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) as well as industry and university partners. To maximize acceptance and benefits among future users, the project group adheres to the international Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard.