As public EV charging networks mature, the industry is moving beyond simply adding more charge points. The new battleground is efficiency—how much energy is actually delivered, and how profitably each site operates.
ABB E-mobility is targeting this shift with the launch of its M-Series, a modular, air-cooled split-system architecture designed to optimize real-world charging performance and site economics.
From Installed Power to Delivered Energy
Traditional charging infrastructure has focused heavily on nameplate capacity. However, rated power alone does not guarantee consistent delivery across multiple vehicles and varying demand conditions. The M-Series rethinks this approach by decoupling power units from charging dispensers, allowing operators to tailor deployments to specific use cases rather than relying on one-size-fits-all hardware.
At the core of the system is a centralized power cabinet connected to a flexible lineup of ChargePost dispensers—Solo, Duo, Dock, and Ultra—supporting major standards including CCS1, CCS2, NACS, and MCS. This architecture enables 36 different site configurations, making it adaptable for diverse environments and user behaviors.
Dynamic Power Sharing for Higher Efficiency
Instead of assigning fixed power to individual chargers, the M-Series treats total installed capacity as a shared resource. Power is dynamically distributed across all active charge points based on real-time demand. This ensures high utilization without overbuilding infrastructure, ultimately reducing both upfront investment and ongoing operational costs.
The system scales from 200 kW to 1.2 MW and can support up to 24 charge points. Capacity can be expanded in 400 kW increments without requiring site redesign, helping operators align investments with actual usage rather than forecasts.
Compact Design, Higher Power Density
Space constraints and land costs are major challenges for charging site development. The M-Series addresses this with a power density of 625 kW per square meter, delivering up to 1,200 kW within a footprint of just 1.92 square meters. This allows operators to deploy more capacity in less space, improving the overall economics of high-traffic locations.
Built for Real-World EV Charging Behavior
Not all EVs charge at the same rate, and conventional systems often struggle to maintain output during multi-vehicle sessions. The M-Series is engineered to keep delivered power close to rated levels across different vehicle types, minimizing energy losses and maximizing throughput.
Dynamic load balancing ensures that capacity is continuously adjusted as vehicles connect and disconnect throughout the day, improving the ratio of delivered energy to installed power.
Tailored for Key Charging Use Cases
The M-Series is designed around three primary deployment scenarios:
– Public fast-charging corridors benefit from scalable infrastructure that grows in phases, ensuring existing assets remain productive as new capacity is added.
– Retail and hospitality locations can balance high-power sessions with parallel charging during peak periods, maximizing utilization while integrating branding and digital commerce features.
– Commercial fleet depots gain flexibility to support mixed vehicle types, including vans, trucks, and buses, without committing to oversized infrastructure upfront. The system enables both high-power opportunity charging and lower-power overnight charging within the same setup.
Smart Operations and Future-Proof Integration
The M-Series integrates with ABB’s asset management platform, offering real-time monitoring, AI-driven diagnostics, and streamlined maintenance. Open APIs and a software development kit allow operators to connect with existing systems and third-party services.
Optional AC-coupled battery storage adds further flexibility, enabling peak shaving and improved energy management in grid-constrained areas.
A Shift from All-in-One to Modular Charging
Building on the foundation of ABB’s A-Series, the M-Series represents a structural evolution in EV charging design. While the A-Series focuses on simplified, all-in-one deployments, the M-Series introduces a modular split architecture that adapts to specific operational needs.
Both systems share the same silicon carbide-based power electronics platform, ensuring high efficiency and reliability across deployments.
The Bottom Line
With the M-Series, ABB E-mobility is aligning EV charging infrastructure with the realities of modern network operations. By prioritizing delivered energy, scalability, and site-level profitability, the system offers a more sustainable path for charging providers looking to maximize returns while meeting growing demand.
[source: ABB]
