High Power Charging is a charging technology developed by Phoenix Contact and installed in fast charging stations for electric vehicles. With the technology, long charging times are a thing of the past: Electric car batteries can be charged for a driving range of 100 kilometers in just 3–5 minutes. High Power Charging technology from Phoenix Contact has set a milestone for the future of e-mobility, making electric vehicle charging at EV charging stations suitable for everyday use – and then some. The idea of charging electric cars with 500 kW at a service area will become quite commonplace.
With the second generation of our CHARX connect professional liquid-cooled CCS charging connectors, we are taking ultra-fast HPC charging to a new level. Thanks to a newly developed cooling concept, the CCS charging cables can now transmit significantly higher charging powers of up to 1 MW in Boost Mode or 800 kW permanently.
With this huge amount of power, it is not just electric cars that can be charged in a matter of minutes. For the first time, many electric utility vehicles, whose large batteries require high charging powers in order to achieve acceptable charging times, will also be quickly ready for use again.
Main features and characteristics at a glance:
Thanks to an optimized cooling concept, the environmentally and maintenance-friendly coolant is conducted directly through the power wires, thus cooling the cable and contacts very efficiently. This makes CCS charging with up to 1,000 kW in Boost Mode possible for the first time.
The new HPC charging connector is 20% lighter than the first generation and offers improved ergonomics in the handle area. The cable is much more flexible due to the new structure. This results in comfortable and easy handling while simultaneously increasing the charging power.
The second generation HPC charging cables are supplied as standard with an assembled cable end, which is suitable for most HPC charging stations. However, we can also support you with customized connection concepts for power, signals, and cooling on request.
The mating face frame and all contacts (DC+, DC-, PE, CP, PP) can be easily replaced, either completely or individually, depending on wear. Without opening the housing and without draining the coolant. This enables fast, cost-effective, and sustainable maintenance.
A coolant leak in the charging connector is detected by the insulation monitor of the charging station before the charging process begins. Since the insulation monitor is prescribed by standards, this safety feature does not require any additional electronics and does not incur any extra costs.
The four-wire measurement technology integrated in the charging cable allows the power dissipation to be recorded in order to precisely determine the energy transferred to the vehicle. The HPC charging cables therefore satisfy all the requirements for billing in accordance with the German Measurement and Calibration Act.
Take a look at the second generation cooled CCS charging connector in precise detail. The product can be viewed from any angle using the zoom and rotate functions.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kW uncooled | 700 kW cooled | 1,000 kW cooled | |
| Charging standards | CCS type 2 (NACS from Q4 2025) | CCS type 1, CCS type 2, GB/T ¹⁾ (NACS from Q1 2026) | CCS type 2 |
| Charging current in Boost Mode ²⁾ | 500 A | 700 A | 1,000 A |
| Permanent charging current ³⁾ | 375 A | 500 A | 800 A |
| Rated voltage | 1,000 V | 1,000 V | 1,000 V |
| Optional panel feed-through | |||
| Customized connection concept on request | |||
| Mating face frame and DC contacts can be replaced ⁴⁾ | |||
| PE contact and signal contacts can be replaced | |||
| Four-wire measurement technology ⁵⁾ | |||
| CAN bus interface | |||
| View product list | View product list | View product details |
¹ Currently only available in China.
² Possible time span depends on the cooling capacity, ambient temperature, frequency of charging point use, design of the vehicle charging inlet, and other operating conditions.
³ In compliance with normative regulations and depending on the cooling capacity.
⁴ Not applicable to GB/T.
⁵ Not applicable to GB/T and CCS type 1.
We already set a milestone in e-mobility with the first generation of HPC charging cables in 2018 by increasing the 200 kW previously possible for CCS charging to 500 kW. One of the biggest challenges was to make the diameter of the charging cable and the size and weight of the charging connector as manageable as possible, while at the same time safely preventing dangerous overheating. We were only able to achieve this through efficient liquid cooling and a well-thought-out cable structure. We were ultimately recognized for this advanced technology – and today you can see our HPC charging connector on the highway at almost every fast charging station.
In the years that followed, the increasing electrification of the utility vehicle sector also increased the charging power requirements. We also received valuable feedback from our customers on what is important to them in an HPC charging cable. This led to the second generation of HPC – even more powerful, robust, and safe. Our development teams optimized the cooling concept and cable structure down to the last detail, for perfect heat dissipation. Where other manufacturers use transformer oil as a cooling medium, we have remained committed to the environmentally and maintenance-friendly water-glycol mixture.
Of course, the new HPC charging connector has also been put through its paces in our test-and-release laboratory in accordance with the stringent requirements of IEC 62196 – in terms of heating, shear force, tensile force, alternating bending, torsion, run-over, and many other disciplines. In some areas, it can even exceed the requirements of the standard, e.g., in the case of IP protection, where it can withstand submersion at a depth of 1 m.
With our new HPC generation, we offer the first CCS charging cable that, thanks to its outstanding charging power of up to 1 MW, is also suitable for fast charging many utility vehicles, such as buses and trucks, where conversion to the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), which is still under development, would otherwise be necessary. By remaining with the established CCS standard, these on-road vehicles can continue to benefit from the extensive CCS charging infrastructure.
However, it is a different matter for heavy off-road utility vehicles, such as mining and construction vehicles, which have even larger batteries requiring charging powers ranging from 1.5 to 3 MW. This is precisely where MCS is indispensable.
Since the CharIN MCS task force was created in 2018, we have been working on defining requirements for the development of the MCS charging standard and expect to offer corresponding MCS charging cables in early 2026 and MCS charging inlets in the medium term featuring Phoenix Contact’s customary superior quality.
We have been the specialist for e-mobility charging technology within the Phoenix Contact Group since our founding in 2013. With more than 1,000 employees worldwide and 25 production lines over an area of 33,200 m², we offer more than 500 products for the development of a networked charging infrastructure and for the electrification of all types of vehicles. To do this, as an IATF-certified company, we meet the high requirements of the automotive industry.