First Megawatt Charging System in California for Electric Trucks

What MCS is and how it changes the game

The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is a standard designed to deliver more than 1 megawatt (MW) of charging power — far above typical passenger‑car fast chargers. At these power levels, large electric trucks can gain substantial range in minutes rather than hours, which significantly cuts vehicle downtime and helps fleets keep tight schedules.

At San Bernardino, Kempower’s Mega Satellite MCS equipment delivered up to 1.2 MW and 1,500 amps continuously using a 1,200 kW power unit and two dispensers. The configuration relies on liquid‑cooled cables to manage heat and maintain stable charging under heavy loads (Electric Drives, Electrek, Charged EVs).

Who took part and what they said

Kempower supplied the Mega Satellite MCS equipment. Windrose, a maker of electric long‑haul trucks, worked with Kempower on the session. EV Realty owns the San Bernardino site and is building heavy‑duty charging hubs across California.

“We are building sites that can serve any heavy‑duty truck, including those using MCS,” said Suncheth Bhat, chief commercial officer at EV Realty, noting the test confirms readiness for real‑world charging as new vehicles arrive later this year.

Jed Routh, Kempower’s vice president of markets and products, said the session proves reliable MCS delivery and interoperability in North America (Electrek, Charged EVs).

Inside the San Bernardino site: hardware and design

The San Bernardino hub is purpose‑built for heavy‑duty vehicles and includes:

• 1,200 kW Kempower Power Unit.
• Two Kempower Mega Satellite MCS dispensers.
• Liquid‑cooled cables to manage extreme charging heat.

Together these components can deliver up to 1.2 MW and support continuous currents of 1,500 amps, a combination designed to cut turnaround times and increase charger throughput on busy freight routes (Electric Drives, Electrek).

This was not a one‑off demo

The San Bernardino session is part of broader MCS deployments and trials. Kempower has run MCS trials and deployments in Europe with truck makers, logistics firms and charging operators over recent months. Windrose recently completed an MCS session in the Netherlands with Autel Europe, showing cross‑border momentum. EV Realty plans to open the San Bernardino hub in April 2026 as fleets prepare for vehicles designed for MCS charging (Electric Drives, Charged EVs, Electrek).

California’s broader push and related projects

California is supporting faster truck charging through public and private programs. The EnergIIZE project led by CalStart (backed by the California Energy Commission) aims to bring MCS benefits to medium‑ and heavy‑duty fleets, enabling quicker turnarounds and higher throughput at up to 1.2 MW.

Other hubs are preparing for megawatt charging, including expanded sites and upcoming developments such as WattEV’s San Bernardino expansion and the bp pulse/TA Ontario hub, which together add scale and spare capacity for freight routes.

What remains to be proven

While the San Bernardino session demonstrates technical interoperability for a key MCS configuration, several operational and policy questions remain:

• Grid capacity: How operators secure and manage multi‑megawatt power at remote depots.
• Permitting: Local approvals and heavy electrical infrastructure permitting.
• Durability: Charger performance under heavy, repeated use over months and years.
• Recovery of costs: How fleets and operators will bear and recover capital and operating expenses.

Industry testing in Europe and projects in California aim to answer many of these questions over the next 12–24 months (Electric Drives, CalStart (EnergIIZE)).

Implications for the Inland Empire

Economic impact

The Inland Empire is a major logistics and distribution hub. Faster, reliable electric truck charging at San Bernardino could speed freight flows, attract fleets seeking shorter turnaround times, and increase demand for charging‑related jobs and grid upgrades. Local operators may see lower fuel and maintenance costs if heavy‑duty electrification scales (Electrek, Electric Drives).

Political consequences

County and city leaders will decide on land use, grid upgrades and permitting. Supporters will emphasize economic growth, cleaner air and jobs; critics may raise concerns about grid strain and construction impacts. Local officials will be key partners or gatekeepers as more sites seek approvals (CalStart (EnergIIZE)).

Social effects and cultural relevance

Social: Cleaner trucks can lower diesel pollution that has impacted Inland Empire communities; shorter idles and turnaround times may reduce local traffic congestion and emissions near warehouses and highways, with possible public health benefits.

Cultural: The region’s identity around logistics and trucking may evolve as advanced charging hubs arrive, prompting local debates about industrial change and community benefits. Clear communication and community engagement will be important.

Practical applications for daily life

For businesses that rely on trucking, MCS‑capable hubs mean shorter waits and more predictable delivery windows. Warehouse managers can align charging with loading schedules; new jobs will emerge in charger maintenance, operations and grid coordination. For residents, reduced diesel idling could bring cleaner air along truck routes (Electrek, Charged EVs).

Reporting and sources

This reporting draws on company announcements and industry coverage of the Kempower, Windrose and EV Realty MCS session at San Bernardino. Key stories and releases are available at:

• Electric Drives
• Electrek
• Charged EVs
• CalStart (EnergIIZE)
• WattEV expansion coverage
• bp pulse/TA Ontario hub coverage

Bottom line: The San Bernardino test marks a technical milestone for MCS deployments in California and North America. As the hub prepares to open in April 2026, fleets, officials and residents will monitor how operations, grid upgrades and permitting evolve to make heavy‑duty electrification routine.