California charging milestone: First North American megawatt truck charge at EV Realty San Bernardino signals step-change for electric freight
San Bernardino hosted North America’s first Megawatt Charging System session for heavy‑duty trucks, where Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty demonstrated sustained megawatt‑level charging at EV Realty’s San Bernardino hub — a key advance for electric long‑haul freight.
Key takeaways
- Historic first: Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty completed North America’s inaugural Megawatt Charging System session at EV Realty’s San Bernardino hub.
- Power and speed: MCS delivers >1 MW (specifiable up to 3.75 MW), enabling sharply reduced charging times and faster turnarounds for long‑haul trucks.
- Site readiness: The San Bernardino hub pairs a 1,200 kW Kempower Power Unit with two Mega Satellite MCS dispensers and plans to open in April 2026.
- Broader context: The test supports interoperability and complements California initiatives like EnergIIZE and multiple local megawatt‑charging projects.
What happened
Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty ran North America’s first sustained Megawatt Charging System (MCS) session for heavy‑duty trucks at EV Realty’s San Bernardino charging hub. The trial used a Kempower Mega Satellite MCS dispenser to deliver megawatt‑level charging to a Windrose electric truck under real‑world conditions — validating hardware, protocols and site operations ahead of broader rollouts.
Sources: reporting consolidated from partner outlets including Kempower reaches megawatt truck charging milestone in California — Electric Drives, This charger’s first megawatt truck charge hits North America — Electrek, and Kempower and Windrose demonstrate Megawatt Charging System in real‑world test — Charged EVs.
Why the MCS test matters
Fleets run on schedules; every hour parked is lost revenue. The Megawatt Charging System is designed to change that by delivering more than 1 MW of power, with the MCS standard supporting up to 3.75 MW. At those levels, charging durations fall sharply, enabling faster turnarounds and fewer trucks stalled at chargers.
This trial helps resolve the chicken‑and‑egg problem facing heavy‑duty electrification: truck manufacturers can produce long‑range rigs, but operators need reliable, high‑power charging sites. As EV Realty’s chief commercial officer Suncheth Bhat put it:
“We are building sites that can serve any heavy‑duty truck, including those utilizing MCS. This test confirms that we will be ready for real‑world MCS charging when the trucks hit the road later this year.”
Inside the San Bernardino site
The San Bernardino hub pairs a 1,200 kW Kempower Power Unit with two Kempower Mega Satellite MCS dispensers. The setup can deliver up to 1.2 MW and 1,500 amps of continuous power, using liquid‑cooled cables to manage heat and maintain stability at high output. Kempower’s Mega Satellite architecture lets a central power unit feed multiple dispensers, helping scale sites while centralizing equipment and maintenance.
Jed Routh, vice president at Kempower, called the test “a major step for heavy‑duty charging in the region,” highlighting the vendor’s focus on uptime and serviceability for fleet operations.
Interoperability and real‑world testing
This session builds on Kempower and Windrose tests in Europe and elsewhere. Cross‑brand, cross‑region trials demonstrate that MCS hardware and protocols can work across manufacturers — a crucial factor for fleets that will demand chargers compatible with multiple truck makes and models. EV Realty emphasizes the San Bernardino hub is being built to be brand‑agnostic and ready when trucks arrive.
A step toward wider deployment in California
California is expanding heavy‑duty EV charging capacity through public and private initiatives. Examples include WattEV’s expanded San Bernardino depot and bp pulse’s Class 68 hub in Ontario. Pilots and coalitions such as Terawatt and the I‑10 coalition are exploring port‑to‑industrial route charging. Programs like EnergIIZE — Calstart are aligning utilities and fleets to support grid upgrades necessary for megawatt charging scale.
What this means for fleets and business owners
Faster charging can directly improve asset utilization: trucks can complete more trips per day, reducing fleet size needs and associated labor and lease costs. Regional haulers, refrigerated carriers, and parcel services stand to benefit most immediately from shorter turnarounds and schedule reliability. The San Bernardino configuration is designed to cut downtime and support schedule‑sensitive operations.
Economic considerations remain central: equipment and site costs, utility upgrades, and the pace at which MCS‑capable trucks arrive will determine the business case. This test, however, removes a key operational doubt: the technology can perform reliably in a commercial setting.
Grid readiness and public‑private planning
Megawatt charging requires significant grid capacity — upgrades to transformers, switchgear and potentially on‑site energy storage or demand control. Coordination with utilities and programs such as EnergIIZE helps operators manage those upgrades and align site builds with grid capability.
Private investment and market solutions are driving models for deployment. The San Bernardino test shows collaboration among vendors, developers and truck makers to develop workable commercial and technical approaches before mass deployment.
Implications for Huntington Beach, California
Economic impact: Huntington Beach lies near key freight corridors and ports. Nearby megawatt charging access can lower shipping costs and improve delivery timelines for local businesses.
Jobs and contractors: Building and operating MCS sites creates skilled construction, electrical and maintenance work — opportunities for local contractors and electricians.
Regulatory and traffic effects: Local leaders will need to streamline permitting and utility coordination to enable rapid site approvals. If MCS reduces dwell time at hubs, it may also ease congestion near ports and industrial zones that serve Huntington Beach.
Practical takeaways for residents and businesses
- Fleet operators: Consider pilots or partnerships now to secure charging slots and prepare for transition costs.
- Policymakers: Streamline permitting for heavy‑duty charging and coordinate with utilities to avoid delays on upgrades.
- Contractors and workforce: Monitor regional site rollouts for construction and maintenance opportunities.
Sources and further reading
- Kempower reaches megawatt truck charging milestone in California — Electric Drives
- This charger’s first megawatt truck charge hits North America — Electrek
- Kempower and Windrose demonstrate Megawatt Charging System in real‑world test at California charging hub — Charged EVs
- EnergIIZE brings the benefits of MCS to fleets across California — Calstart
- WattEV expands California e‑truck charging site — Automotive World
- WattEV expands San Bernardino depot with megawatt charging — Electrive
- bp pulse Class 68 truck charging hub coming to California — CleanTrucking
- Video: MCS and port‑to‑industrial pilots — YouTube
Reporting consolidated from Times Media Service research and partner outlets listed above.
