As we approach the end of an exciting year, we reflect on 2025 milestones and take pride in how far ADVANTICS has come turning ambitious ideas into real-world impact. From delivering the first Megawatt Charging System (MCS)–ready Electric Vehicle Charge Controllers to reaching key milestones in volume production, this year was defined by progress with purpose. We tackled one of MCS charging’s toughest challenges—safety through galvanic isolation—by shipping our new bidirectional power converter, ADM-PC-BI25, designed to enable safe MCS charging without a bulky mains transformer. Alongside this, we continued innovating across power converters, advanced control systems, and SiC power electronics, while preparing our highly anticipated 100 kW+ packaged converters (CH01, AC01, DC01) and revamping our firmware, such as the complete redesign of the DC/DC control system in the AFE to deliver a more intuitive, user-friendly experience. Thank you to our customers and partners for trusting us to power the next generation of energy.

As electrification pushes into megawatt territory, smarter solutions are needed to bridge the gap between grid capacity and real-world demand. One such solution is battery-boosted charging, designed to deliver massive power precisely when and where it’s needed without grid disruption.

Not long ago at the Port of San Diego, Crowley’s eWolf—the U.S.’s first all-electric tugboat—successfully docked for a quick megawatt charge. Even in this urban hub with a strong grid capacity, pulling straight from the lines could spike loads and plunge the city into chaos: blacking out Petco Park mid-inning, halting a major conference at the Convention Centre, and leaving only the historic gas lamps of the Gaslamp Quarter. That’s where battery buffering steps in: two 1.5 MWh onsite containers soak up off-peak power from the grid, then unleash smooth MW power bursts for rapid recharges—leading to no infrastructure shocks. Battery buffering (or ‘boost’) integrates extra storage to soften sudden peaks in electricity use, store cheap energy for later, and keep supply and demand balanced, acting like a smart capacitor for the EV era.

In the previous editions of Current Affairs, we talked about how we can learn from today’s EV charging infrastructure to ensure Megawatt Charging System (MCS) succeeds, and how we are optimising the building blocks of MCS chargers. This time, we’re flipping the spotlight to the ‘battery’ brain behind MCS chargers—exploring how battery-boosted systems can supercharge the future of megawatt charging.

Keeping up with the power surge

Energy providers commonly buffer intermittent generation sources like solar and wind with batteries. As EV charging demand grows ever higher with the latest MCS standard, it’s going to require a battery boost too, because the grid can’t take the shock.

Early megawatt-level EV chargers are often built using batteries and power systems originally designed for stationary energy storage. But this setup often leads to excessive conversion steps, going from DC to AC, through a transformer, and then back from AC to DC. These multiple stages add inefficiency, increase costs, and require large, expensive equipment that can take months or even years to permit, install, and maintain—making it a cumbersome solution for many sites. By connecting the DC battery directly to the DC input going to the vehicle, you can skip these conversion steps and avoid the associated energy losses.

We see that the need for battery-boosted chargers stems from two key factors: the challenges of installing new dedicated high-power lines as power demand exceeds over time, and the need to manage peak demand during rush hour charging periods. Here, battery integration becomes a critical design consideration for these systems. At ADVANTICS, we recognize that battery buffering will be crucial for most MCS stations and must be implemented simply, efficiently, and safely.

Safety first

To eliminate the risk of a short circuit between multiple battery packs, galvanic isolation is typically used. Historically, this is typically achieved by converting DC to AC, going through a large transformer and the grid frequency (50Hz/60Hz), and then converting AC to DC again. With power electronics, we can now implement advanced topologies like a dual active bridge. While still technically converting from DC to AC and back to DC, they do so at a much higher frequency, so that the size of the magnetics can be reduced by a factor of 100 times and the efficiency can be as high as 99%.

To ensure both user and vehicle safety, MCS chargers require reinforced galvanic isolation, as well as isolation between charging pistols or stalls. One way to achieve this isolation is if the mains distribution transformer has multiple secondary windings providing 400/480 VAC. The concept behind a transformer-coupled MCS offers an elegant solution for battery integration. This approach allows for seamless integration with existing Energy Storage System (ESS) containers by coupling them to the transformer secondaries. The transformer core functions as a common power distribution point, enabling any MCS charging station or stall to access the additional battery capacity when needed—for example, during peak charging periods when multiple heavy-duty EVs draw near-simultaneous megawatt loads. There are some downsides to this approach, namely increased primary to secondary capacitance - an effect a high frequency isolated DC/DC doesn’t suffer from to such a degree.

Deploying the ESS to MCS charging stations adds an additional capability, that is, enabling energy trading with the grid during off-peak hours. Buying electricity when it’s cheap and selling it back to the grid when demand is high can create a new revenue stream for Charge Point Operators (CPOs). This capability, notably, not only enhances the economic viability of MCS stations but also contributes to grid stability by enabling smart energy management strategies.

Looking ahead

Integrating MCS in the e-mobility sector today represents a significant leap for high-power charging solutions. By addressing the speed and convenience of charging, MCS opens up new possibilities for electric and hybrid applications across various industries. However, we must carefully consider the specific use cases where high-power charging systems are most beneficial, taking into account both technical requirements and regulatory frameworks.

Ultimately, the shift towards megawatt-level charging offers a pathway to enhanced electrification, reduced emissions, and improved operational efficiency, reinforcing the necessity of continued investment in both technology development and charging infrastructure. As advancements in power electronics and energy systems progress, the future of high-power charging looks promising.

Megawatt charging is here, and ADVANTICS is here to support you with this ‘mega’ transition.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season from all of us at ADVANTICS. See you in 2026!