Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The electric revolution isn’t just for passenger cars. Medium- and heavy-duty trucks that haul passengers, goods, and equipment are also going electric. But these commercial vehicles have much higher charging needs than light-duty electric vehicles (EVs). The truck charging stations of the future must provide reliable, high-power charging at an estimated capacity of 1 megawatt or more.
This animation demonstrates a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) concept for high-power charging for a variety of vehicles through one integrated charging plaza. The animation illustrates how different levels of electricity can flow to vehicles with different charging level needs, and how smart charge management strategies—for instance, by implementing the battery energy storage system referenced in the animation—can reduce peak charging demand. These strategies help the electrical grid’s resilience, lower the cost of charging, and allow vehicles to charge in less time.
This video was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The electric revolution isn’t just for passenger cars. Medium- and heavy-duty trucks that haul passengers, goods, and equipment are also going electric. But these commercial vehicles have much higher charging needs than light-duty electric vehicles (EVs). The truck charging stations of the future must provide reliable, high-power charging at an estimated capacity of 1 megawatt or more.
This animation demonstrates a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) concept for high-power charging for a variety of vehicles through one integrated charging plaza. The animation illustrates how different levels of electricity can flow to vehicles with different charging level needs, and how smart charge management strategies—for instance, by implementing the battery energy storage system referenced in the animation—can reduce peak charging demand. These strategies help the electrical grid’s resilience, lower the cost of charging, and allow vehicles to charge in less time.
