XCharge unveils 480 kW C7 fast-charger at Power2Drive Europe
XCharge (Nasdaq: XCH) has taken the wraps off the new generation of its C7 DC fast-charging station at Power2Drive Europe in Munich, positioning the unit as its highest-output product to date with a peak charging capacity of 480 kW. The Hamburg-headquartered company says the upgrade responds to operator demand for high-performance, serviceable infrastructure that can scale across public, fleet and retail environments.
EnBW, the operator of Germany's largest public fast-charging network, is already deploying the existing C7 across its estate and has formally listed XCharge as an approved supplier. That endorsement provides the launch with commercial grounding that hardware unveilings at trade shows do not always carry.
Under the hood
XCharge says the new C7 has been redesigned around the demands of sustained high-power operation. The company highlights a multi-layer electromagnetic compatibility shielding concept, an adaptive thermal management system that adjusts fan speed in response to ambient conditions and load, and an optimised control architecture intended to improve system stability over time. Serviceability has also been emphasised: the dual-outlet design includes integrated cable management and support for both liquid-cooled and air-cooled high-power charging cables.
On the connectivity side, the C7 supports OCPP 2.0.1, ISO 15118 Plug and Charge, and VDV 261, covering the main interoperability standards required for integration with European vehicle back-ends and mobility operators. Cybersecurity provisions include TLS 1.3 encryption and over-the-air firmware updates, which the company frames as foundational to protecting critical charging infrastructure rather than an optional feature.
Co-chief executive Albina Iljasov described the new C7 as a consistent evolution of a proven platform rather than a ground-up redesign. "In Europe, we see strong demand for high-performance DC charging infrastructure that can be operated efficiently, easily integrated, and used in a user-friendly manner," she said.
Market context
The European DC fast-charging market is consolidating around a smaller number of high-power unit suppliers as network operators prioritise reliability and integration depth over headline kilowatt ratings. XCharge competes against established names including ABB E-mobility, Tritium and Alpitronic, as well as Chinese-origin vendors expanding into the European market. At 480 kW, the C7 sits at the upper end of deployable single-cabinet output for most commercial sites, though multi-cabinet configurations from rivals can exceed that figure.
The EnBW relationship is commercially significant. EnBW operates one of the densest fast-charging networks in Germany and its supplier listing process is understood to include field-validation requirements, meaning the endorsement carries more weight than a pilot agreement. For XCharge, which has manufacturing roots in China and a dual headquarters model spanning Hamburg and Austin, the relationship also helps address European buyer concerns around supply-chain provenance and local support.
Regulatory tailwinds are supportive. The EU's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation requires member states to deploy high-power fast-charging along the core TEN-T road network at defined intervals, with obligations tightening through 2026 and 2027. That creates a procurement cycle that favours suppliers with certified, field-proven hardware and established operator relationships. XCharge did not disclose pricing, deployment volumes or any forward revenue guidance associated with the C7 relaunch.