CharIN and Cal EPIC’s Megawatt Charging System (MCS) Workshop will bring together industry leaders, fleets, utilities, government agencies, researchers, and other stakeholders to explore the technologies, policies, and infrastructure needed to accelerate megawatt-scale charging deployment in California and beyond. The one-day program will feature updates on MCS standards and interoperability, market development and the MCS West Coast Corridor, infrastructure funding, and utility interconnection and energization.
Interactive discussions will focus on practical solutions to accelerate MCS infrastructure deployment, including permitting, grid capacity bridge solutions, and utility programs. Participants will also have opportunities to engage with technology demonstrations and exhibitors and tour Cal EPIC’s Capital Charge Yard, providing a firsthand look at emerging technologies supporting the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty transportation.
The workshop will also include live MCS charging demonstrations.
Registration is open!
Event Info
Date:
11/19/2026 – 11/19/2026
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (PDT)
Location:
Online
MCS Workshop - Agenda
Thursday, November 19
Subject to change without notice
Moderation
Erika Myers
CharIN Executive Director North America
LinkedIn
8:30 AM
Registration, Coffee & Exhibits
9:00 AM
Welcome Session
Building the MCS Ecosystem
The transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty transportation will require charging infrastructure capable of meeting the unique power, operational, and reliability needs of commercial fleets. This opening session will set the stage for the workshop by examining the role of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) in the U.S. transportation electrification strategy and the opportunity to build a coordinated ecosystem around its deployment.
Michael Keller
CTO CharIN and CEO CharIN Academy
Orville Thomas
CEO, Cal EPIC
9:15 AM
MCS Technical Update
From Standard to Deployment
MCS is rapidly progressing from technical development and standardization toward real-world implementation. This session will provide an update on the latest MCS technical developments, including standards, charging interfaces, ISO 15118-20 communications, interoperability, cybersecurity, and testing and certification activities. Speakers will discuss where technology stands today, lessons emerging from early interoperability testing and deployments, and the remaining technical work necessary to enable a reliable and interoperable MCS ecosystem. The session will also explore how common standards and rigorous testing can reduce implementation risk and accelerate commercial deployment.
Ted Bohn
Electrical Engineer, Argonne National Lab
Anais Bonnard
Technical Project Manager, CharIN
Kristian Jokinen
Product Manager, ABB E-mobility
10:00 AM
State of the Market
MCS Moves from Pilots to Corridors
As electric trucks move into larger-scale commercial deployment, megawatt charging is beginning to transition from demonstrations and pilots toward fleet, depot, and corridor applications. This session will examine the current state of the MCS market through the perspectives of charging infrastructure developers, vehicle manufacturers, and other industry leaders. Speakers will discuss emerging projects and use cases, including development of high-power charging corridors, and share lessons related to site selection, fleet demand, utilization, infrastructure design, and business models.
Andrea Pratt
VP of Government & Utility Relations, Greenlane
Ben Sharpe
Senior Policy Analyst, Atlas Public Policy/C3 Corridor Charging Project
Andrew Martinez
Zero Emission Infrastructure Specialist, California Air Resources Board
10:45 AM
Networking Break
11:00 AM
Funding the MCS Buildout
Turning Plans into Projects
Megawatt-scale charging sites can require significant investment in charging equipment, utility infrastructure, site development, and supporting technologies. This session will examine the public and private funding mechanisms available to help bridge financing gaps and move projects from planning to construction. Speakers will discuss state and federal programs supporting medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure, as well as opportunities to better align public investment with private capital. The conversation will consider how funding programs can address early-market risks while helping establish a sustainable long-term market for MCS infrastructure.
Spencer Reeder
Division Director, Fuels & Transportation, California Energy Commission
Aravind Kailas
Advanced Technology Policy Director, Volvo Group North AmericaPolicy Committee Chair, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation
Jessie Lund
Senior Program Director of Transportation, NASEO
11:45 AM
The Megawatt Challenge
Interconnection & Energization
For many high-power charging projects, installing chargers is only part of the challenge—the larger constraint can be securing sufficient electrical capacity and getting sites energized on timelines that align with fleet deployments. This session will bring together utilities, charging developers, fleets, and other stakeholders to examine the unique grid and interconnection challenges associated with multi-megawatt charging sites. Topics will include grid capacity, utility service upgrades, interconnection and energization timelines, infrastructure planning, load forecasting, flexible service connections, temporary or “bridge” solutions, and coordination among utilities, customers, and charging developers. Speakers will also explore approaches that could allow fleets to begin operations while longer-term grid upgrades are being completed.
Eric Cahill
Senior Strategic Business Planner, SMUD
Lien Dinh
EVP of Development, Forum Mobility
Mal Skowron
Staff Policy Analyst, NA Charging Policy, Tesla
12:30 PM
Networking Lunch + Capital Charge Yard Tour
Facility tour, MCS charging demonstrations and exhibits
2:00 PM
Setting the Challenge
What Must We Solve to Scale MCS?
Facilitator summarizes key barriers identified during the morning and explains the breakout process.
60-minute facilitated breakout session focused on developing actionable solutions rather than simply identifying barriers. Breakout groups report recommendations followed by moderated discussion to identify and refine five shared priorities.
Alycia Gilde
Executive Vice President, Catalyst Mobility
Erika Myers
CharIN Executive Director North America
Orville Thomas
CEO, Cal EPIC
3:15 PM
From Discussion to Action: Where Do We Go From Here?
Attendees discuss ownership, follow-up activities and opportunities for continued collaboration.
3:50 PM
Closing Remarks
4:00 PM
Networking Reception
MCS Demonstration description
Experience the technologies powering the next generation of medium- and heavy-duty electric transportation. As part of the CharIN MCS Workshop, please join technology providers, vehicle manufacturers, charging equipment manufacturers, and other industry participants who will showcase MCS technologies through live energized demonstrations, functional technology demonstrations, and static equipment displays. Demonstrations may feature MCS-equipped vehicles and chargers, connectors and couplers, EVCC/SECC controllers, ISO 15118-20 communications, testing equipment, power electronics, energy-management technologies, and other solutions supporting megawatt-scale charging.
MCS Secure Communication Demonstration
This demonstration, organized by Vector and Bosch, provides a practical look at how MCS communication is established, secured, and tested using the latest industry standards. Attendees will see a walkthrough of an MCS communication session, including the key differences between MCS, CCS, and NACS communication architectures and protocol stacks. Special focus will be placed on TLS 1.3, a mandatory security requirement for ISO 15118-20-based MCS implementations, and how conformance testing can identify interoperability issues before equipment reaches the field. Featuring MCS hardware and software components from Bosch and Vector, the demonstration will highlight real-world lessons from MCS development and testing and show how rigorous testing can increase confidence in the readiness of the MCS ecosystem. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the technologies and testing methodologies needed to deploy secure, interoperable, and reliable MCS charging infrastructure.
MCS Technology Showcase
Get a hands-on look at the latest Megawatt Charging System (MCS) interface technology with REMA EV USA. Attendees will be able to interact with MCS connectors and inlets designed to support up to 3,000A and 1,500V, explore application-specific components and functioning demonstration towers, and learn how MCS interfaces can support heavy-duty charging and emerging alternative use cases.
M-Series Megawatt Charging Technology Demonstration
See the next generation of heavy-duty charging technology with ABB E-mobility’s M-Series charging system. Designed for public fast-charging sites and commercial and transit depots, the M-Series supports CCS and MCS charging and scales from 200 kW to 1.2 MW, dynamically allocating available power across connected charge points based on real-time demand. Attendees will have an opportunity to explore the technology firsthand and learn how ABB E-mobility’s modular charging architecture enables operators to expand capacity as fleet demand grows, supporting both high-power opportunity charging and lower-power overnight charging.
Host: Cal EPIC
Cal EPIC (California Energy, Power, and Innovation Collaborative) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit focused on accelerating research, development, and commercial manufacturing of clean energy and transportation technology. Cal EPIC’s 33,000-square-foot Innovation Hub is home to the Capital Charge Yard EVSE interoperability and conformance testing center in addition to a prototyping and manufacturing lab and clean tech workforce development programs.
Ticket Categories and Costs
Both CharIN-Members and Non-Members can participate in this event.
All tickets purchased after November 4, 2026, are subject to a 10% late registration fee.
CharIN-Member
CharIN Member
Workshop Participant
$ 100
CharIN Member
Online Workshop Participant
$ 30
*Net prices excl. VAT
Non-Member
Non-Member
Workshop Participant
$ 100
Non-Member
Online Workshop Participant
$ 30
*Net prices excl. VAT
Non-Members Student/Government/Non-Profit
Non-Members Student/Government/Non-Profit
Workshop Participant
$ 50
*Net prices excl. VAT
Sponsorship Categories and Costs
We offer you three sponsorship packages that allow you to present your company during the event:
$ 1,500
- One complimentary ticket to the Testival
- Placement of sponsorship information on the event website and digital on-site signage
- Mention in the opening remarks of the Testival
- Company logo included in selected social media posts on LinkedIn
- Access to the CharIN Networking Event
$ 2,500
- Opportunity for a company representative to provide up to 3 minutes of prepared opening remarks at the beginning of the workshop.
- One complimentary registration for the workshop.
- Company logo displayed on the event website and digital onsite signage.
- Company logo included in selected LinkedIn posts promoting the workshop.
- Opportunity to display up to 2 pop-up banners or other marketing materials, in consultation with CharIN, within the workshop area.
- Acknowledgement as the MCS Workshop Sponsor by the moderator during the opening and closing remarks.
- Opportunity to provide branded materials or giveaways for workshop participants, subject to approval by CharIN.
$ 2,500
- Sponsor will receive one complimentary ticket to the Testival.
- A company representative can provide up to 3 minutes of prepared opening remarks at the start of the networking event.
- The company logo will be placed on the event website and in digital onsite signage.
- The company logo will be included in selected social media posts on LinkedIn.
- Opportunity to display up to 2 pop-up banners or other Marketing signs, in consultation with CharIN, during the evening event.
Event contacts
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