ChargePoint Unveils Megawatt EV Charging Architecture

ChargePoint ramps to megawatt EV charging

ChargePoint has revealed a next-generation DC fast charging architecture that jumps to 600 kW for passenger vehicles and scales up to 3.75 megawatts for heavy-duty trucks. The announcement signals a clear push to future-proof U.S. charging infrastructure and keep pace with high-voltage EVs emerging from China.

CEO Rick Wilmer framed the move as both a technical and strategic response: most current EVs accept up to about 350 kW today, but battery architectures are shifting toward higher-voltage systems. By building more powerful, modular chargers now, ChargePoint hopes to avoid repeated upgrades later.

A core element is the "power block" — a 600 kW cabinet that can perform AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC conversion. One block can be split into multiple ports (for example, 12 at 50 kW or combinations like 6×100 kW), and three aggregated blocks deliver roughly 1.8 MW for truck use. In some configurations ChargePoint eliminates AC-to-DC conversion entirely and connects DC-to-DC directly to a microgrid for better efficiency.

• About 30% lower installation cost compared with current DC fast chargers
• 30% lower operating cost and 30% smaller physical footprint
• Modular ports let site operators balance many lower-power sessions or fewer ultra-fast sessions

ChargePoint will deploy with participating utilities and is working with Eaton on power-management and microgrid solutions. That partnership aims to overcome grid constraints and bring more DC-capable microgrids online — a necessary step since these high-power units demand substantial electrical capacity and can't be placed just anywhere.

Because the architecture is DC-centric, ChargePoint highlights elegant energy flows: power can move between the utility, chargers, on-site batteries, and back to the grid via vehicle-to-everything (V2X) management. That flexibility helps shave peak demand and smooth integration with intermittent renewables.

Rollout will be selective starting in the second half of 2026, focused on sites with robust grid access or utility-backed upgrades. ChargePoint says its Express chargers can be pre-built on a pad and trucked in, shrinking deployment timelines — but the heavy lifting still requires coordination with utilities and grid planners.

Why does this matter for fleets, cities, and charging operators? Faster, more efficient chargers can reduce dwell time for trucks and passenger EVs, lower operational costs, and free up real estate. But they also shift complexity toward site electrical design, demand-management, and capital planning — domains where data and simulation beat guesswork.

ChargePoint's move narrows the gap with China on high-voltage charging standards and forces a U.S. conversation about scaling power delivery without destabilizing local grids. The practical path will be a mix of selective high-power hubs, local battery buffering, and close cooperation with utilities.

For operators planning deployments, the takeaway is clear: think beyond individual chargers. Model grid upgrades, test mixed-port strategies, and plan for V2X and battery buffering to maximize uptime and ROI. With careful site selection and utility partnerships, megawatt charging can accelerate electrification without breaking budgets.

QuarkyByte can help stakeholders forecast load impacts, simulate cost and uptime outcomes for different charger mixes, and design rollout pilots that align with utility constraints and fleet needs. The technology is promising — the next step is rigorous planning to make it practical at scale.