Megawatt Charging System (MCS) for heavy-duty trucks in Europe: standards and AFIR targets

The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is the connector and communication framework designed for electric trucks and other heavy vehicles. Its standards are now published, but its European rollout is not dated by any official source we could read. This article separates what is settled from what is not, so an operator can prepare sites without betting on a calendar.

Which MCS standards exist

Two documents define the system today.

IEC TS 63379, published on 28 January 2026, covers the vehicle connector, the vehicle inlet and the cable assembly for megawatt DC charging. The IEC lists it as a technical specification, not a full international standard, with a rated voltage up to 1 500 V DC, a rated current up to 3 000 A, and a stability date of 2028.

SAE J3271 was published on 5 March 2025 as a technical information report. It covers the coupler, communications, cables and cooling, and use cases such as grid support and bidirectional operation.

CharIN announced the IEC publication on 9 February 2026 and describes MCS standardisation as complete. A later CharIN headline mentions IEC 61851-23-3:2026 as completing the framework; we did not read the article, so check the text before relying on it.

A figure to handle with care

The often-quoted 3,75 MW is a calculation, not a figure written in a standard. CharIN's MCS page gives 1 250 V and 3 000 A and describes the requirements as still under discussion. The IEC specification allows up to 1 500 V. Only the current, up to 3 000 A, is common to both. When you quote a power level to a customer, say which voltage you assume.

What AFIR sets for heavy-duty charging

AFIR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1804, has applied since 13 April 2024. Article 4 sets heavy-duty targets by pool, in kW, on the TEN-T network. They are targets that Member States must ensure, not an obligation on each operator.

By 31 December 2025: on at least 15 % of the network length, pools of at least 1 400 kW with at least one 350 kW point.

By 31 December 2027: on at least 50 % of the network. Core network pools offer at least 2 800 kW with at least two 350 kW points; comprehensive network pools at least 1 400 kW with one 350 kW point.

By 31 December 2030, core network: pools at most 60 km apart, at least 3 600 kW, with at least two 350 kW points.

By 31 December 2030, comprehensive network: pools at most 100 km apart, at least 1 500 kW, with at least one 350 kW point.

Safe and secure parking areas: at least two 100 kW stations by the end of 2027, at least four by the end of 2030.

These figures concern heavy vehicles and are not specific to MCS. The regulation also notes that standards for heavy-duty vehicles were still being developed when it was adopted.

What this means for a CPO

Megawatt-class sites are first a grid question. A 3 600 kW pool does not fit on a connection sized for cars. The Directive 2019/944 asks Member States to facilitate the connection of charging points, but no official figure we found gives connection lead times for charging in Europe. Treat the DSO request as the critical path.

Truck sites also depend on how the vehicle is used. Safe parking areas and depots have long dwell times, where several lower-power points under managed charging can serve a fleet at a lower connection capacity than one megawatt-class point. The choice between the two depends on the fleet schedule, not on the standard.

Finally, do not assume protocol support. We found no verified statement on how OCPP versions handle MCS sessions. Ask each hardware supplier which OCPP version their megawatt product speaks and which messages it supports, in writing.

This week

List the heavy-vehicle routes near your sites and compare them with the TEN-T network. Ask your DSO what connection capacity is available. Ask hardware suppliers which MCS standard version their product follows. GFO Omni is a CSMS supporting OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1 and 2.1 that supervises charge points.