HIPEL
The High Power Electronics Laboratory (HiPEL) develops modular, scalable megawatt and mobile DC fast charging technologies for next-generation heavy-duty transportation and electrified mining applications.
- Megawatt X-MCS Charging Platform: Modular high-voltage architecture supporting up to 3 kV and 12 MW, designed for scalability, redundancy, and future expansion.
- Advanced High Power Charging Infrastructure: Medium Voltage Solid-State Transformer (SST) enabling DC-connected (800-1500VDC), grid-flexible, and grid-free charging station architectures.
- Innovative EV Mobile DC Fast Charger: A light weight, cost effective direct Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) fast charging system for energy sharing and roadside assistance for out-of-charge vehicles.
Together, these technologies enable resilient, high-power infrastructure for electrified freight corridors, industrial fleets, and mining operations at megawatt scale.
“From Roadside Rescue to Megawatt Charging: HiPEL is Powering the Future of Electric Freight
For the trucking industry, electrification is not simply about replacing diesel with batteries—it is about doing so without sacrificing uptime, range or productivity. As commercial vehicles move toward larger battery packs and higher daily utilization, charging speed and infrastructure flexibility are becoming just as important as vehicle performance itself.
At McMaster University’s High Power Electronics Lab (HiPEL), researchers are developing charging technologies designed around these real-world operating demands.
At the high-power end, HiPEL is advancing its X-MCS extreme megawatt charging platform, a modular architecture targeting up to 3,000 V, 4,000 A and 12 MW. At these power levels, hundreds of kilowatt-hours can be transferred in only minutes; one HiPEL reference case targets approximately 400 kWh in about three minutes. For long-haul trucks, fleet depots and freight corridors, charging at this scale could dramatically reduce dwell time and bring electric-truck refuelling closer to the operational expectations of today’s diesel fleets.
Why Choose HIPEL?
Behind this capability is a modular power-conversion platform built around 150 kW AC/DC and isolated DC/DC building blocks, allowing systems to scale with the application. HiPEL is also developing solid-state-transformer (SST) technology for next-generation megawatt charging stations, enabling direct connection to medium-voltage infrastructure and high-power DC charging architectures.
These technologies also have strong potential in Canadian mining, where enormous haul trucks, demanding duty cycles and remote operating environments make fast, high-power charging especially important. Electrifying these vehicles requires megawatt-scale infrastructure capable of replenishing very large batteries without creating unacceptable operational downtime.
At the other end of the charging spectrum, HiPEL has developed a 40 kW vehicle-to-vehicle mobile fast charger. Unlike a conventional charging station, the rugged unit is approximately the size of a carry-on case and can travel with a roadside-assistance or fleet-service vehicle. It transfers DC power directly from a donor vehicle or mobile energy source to a depleted EV and can provide enough energy to get the vehicle back on the road in less than 15 minutes. The same technology can support emergency roadside charging, fleet energy logistics, construction sites and industrial operations.
Together, HiPEL’s technologies address two critical questions for electric transportation: How do we charge faster when every minute of downtime matters—and how do we bring power to the vehicle when fixed infrastructure is not available?
From compact mobile rescue charging to multi-megawatt freight infrastructure, HiPEL is developing practical solutions to keep the next generation of electric transportation moving.”
