CharIN announced on September 30, 2026 that the publication of IEC 61851-23-3:2026 completes the core standards framework for the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), the high-power DC system designed for heavy trucks and other large vehicles. The IEC standard, published on August 21, 2026, sets the requirements for MCS charging equipment with a supply-side rating up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC and a vehicle-side maximum of 1,250 V DC.
Key Takeaways
- IEC 61851-23-3:2026 completes the core MCS standards framework, according to CharIN.
- MCS equipment is rated up to 1,250 V DC on the vehicle side.
- Bidirectional MCS requirements are not yet specified.
- Conformance testing and certification are the next milestones.
The MCS Standards Set
| Document | Role |
|---|---|
| IEC TS 63379 | MCS connector, vehicle inlet and cable assembly |
| ISO 15118-10 | Automotive Ethernet physical and data link layer |
| ISO 15118-20 AMD1 | Communication and energy transfer control |
| ISO 5474-3 | Vehicle requirements for DC power transfer, including MCS |
| IEC 61851-23-3 | Requirements for MCS DC charging equipment |
| SAE J3271 | Overall MCS system and use cases (Technical Information Report) |
What IEC 61851-23-3 Specifies
- Equipment uses a coupler according to IEC TS 63379, with protective separation between the supply side and the vehicle side.
- Digital communication for energy transfer control follows ISO 15118-10 and ISO 15118-20.
- Requirements for bidirectional power flow are still under consideration.
- The edition does not cover charging one vehicle through several connectors or several chargers at once.
- Edition 1.0 runs 148 pages and comes from IEC Technical Committee 69.
CharIN says attention now moves to adoption, conformance testing, certification and interoperability validation. Its North American team will hold an MCS Workshop and an ISO 15118-20 Controller Testival in Sacramento from November 17 to 19.
What It Means
For truck depot developers and grid planners, a closed set of standards reduces the risk that early megawatt equipment becomes stranded. Tender documents can now cite specific IEC and ISO references, and buyers can ask for conformance test evidence rather than draft-level claims. Grid connection lead times remain the practical constraint, so early load studies are still essential.
Most mixed fleets will combine a few high-power bays with many lower-power chargers for vans and cars that dwell overnight. For those lower-power bays, EVDANCE offers commercial charging solutions such as the EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger (about 20–30 kW, OCPP 1.6J). EVDANCE does not currently list MCS equipment.
Related Reading
- How Fast Is a DC Fast Charger?
- Fleet Depot Charging: How to Size AC Chargers for Vans and Light Commercial Vehicles
- How Do DC Fast Chargers Work?
