Key Points
- Alpine Energy has unveiled an Australia-first vehicle-to-vehicle DC fast charging platform called the MGEN M40.
- The mobile charger can deliver up to 40kW, adding around 65km of driving range in 15 minutes.
- It has been designed for roadside assistance, emergency services, mining operations and remote fleets.
- The system supports both CCS2 and CHAdeMO charging standards and includes remote connectivity features.
- Alpine is seeking early deployment partners ahead of broader commercial rollout.
One of the biggest challenges facing electric vehicle adoption in Australia isn't charging speed. It's what happens when drivers find themselves hundreds of kilometres from the nearest charger.
An Australian company believes it has a solution.
Melbourne-based Alpine Energy has unveiled the MGEN M40, an Australia-first vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) DC fast charging platform designed to bring charging directly to electric vehicles wherever they need it. Rather than requiring drivers to find a charger, the MGEN M40 takes the charger to the vehicle.
Designed and manufactured in Australia, the platform is aimed at stranded motorists, roadside recovery operators, remote industries, fleet operators and emergency services. Alpine says it represents a new category of EV charging that has seen very little real-world deployment in Australia to date.
The unveiling marks a significant milestone for the local EV sector as Australia looks for new ways to support electric vehicles beyond traditional charging infrastructure.
Why bring the charger to the vehicle?
Most EV charging networks rely on drivers travelling to fixed charging stations. But that approach doesn't always work in a country as large and geographically diverse as Australia.
The MGEN M40 has been designed around situations where charging infrastructure simply isn't available.
That could mean an EV stranded on a regional highway, a mining vehicle operating far beyond the electricity grid, a fleet vehicle working in remote locations, or emergency-response vehicles supporting communities during natural disasters.
According to Alpine Energy founder and managing director Mark Wexler, these difficult scenarios were the primary motivation behind the project.
"Until today, charging an electric vehicle has meant bringing the vehicle to the infrastructure," Wexler said.
"The MGEN M40 is built to do the opposite, to bring rapid charging to the vehicle, wherever it is.
"The cases that drive us are the hardest ones: getting a stranded driver moving again when there's no charger for kilometres and keeping fleets running where the grid simply doesn't reach."
Importantly, the platform requires no permanent infrastructure. It can be deployed without grid connections, civil works or charging-site construction, allowing energy to be delivered directly where it is needed.
How does the MGEN M40 work?
At its core, the MGEN M40 is a mobile DC fast charger that stores energy on a mobile asset and delivers it directly to an electric vehicle.
The current prototype can provide up to 40kW of DC charging power, enough to add approximately 65 kilometres of driving range in around 15 minutes depending on the vehicle.
The charger supports both CCS2 and CHAdeMO standards, making it compatible with a broad range of EVs currently operating in Australia.
Alpine says the project required solving a number of complex engineering challenges. Unlike a traditional charging station, a mobile DC fast charger must combine battery management, power delivery, communications systems and mobility into a single deployable platform.
The MGEN M40 also features OCPP-compliant telemetry and integrated 4G/LTE connectivity, allowing operators to remotely monitor charging sessions, system performance and operational status.
The platform has been developed with scalability in mind, allowing future upgrades and deployment across multiple industries as demand grows.
Built with global partners and real-world deployment in mind
Although the technology has been developed in Australia, Alpine Energy has partnered with several international technology specialists to bring the platform to market.
One of those partners is EXOR Oceania, which is helping support deployment and establish links with mining and industrial operators.
"EXOR partners with organisations applying technology to solve practical operational challenges in emerging industries," said EXOR Oceania founder Carlo Sportiello.
"The MGEN M40 represents an innovative approach to mobile energy deployment and EV charging infrastructure, particularly in environments where conventional charging solutions may not be practical."
The platform also incorporates technology developed alongside battery specialist Ampernext. The two companies have adapted Ampernext's battery-coupled DC-to-DC charging technology specifically for Australian operating conditions.
Ampernext founder and chief executive Vasil Merdzhanov believes vehicle-to-vehicle charging could become an important new segment within the broader EV industry.
"V2V charging is exactly the kind of application our DC-DC technology was built for, and Alpine Energy is approaching it with the engineering rigour the category needs," Merdzhanov said.
"The MGEN M40 takes mobile fast charging into a genuinely new operating envelope."
Alpine is now seeking a limited number of operational partners across roadside recovery, fleet management, mobile automotive services and remote industries to participate in early deployment and field-validation programs.
What this means for Australia
Australia's public charging network continues to expand rapidly, particularly in major cities and along key transport corridors. However, significant parts of regional and remote Australia remain underserved.
That reality creates a need for solutions that can bridge the gap between fixed charging locations.
The MGEN M40 is unlikely to replace traditional charging stations, but it could become a valuable complement to Australia's growing charging ecosystem. Roadside assistance providers could use it to rescue stranded EV drivers. Mining companies could deploy charging where no grid exists. Emergency services could use the technology during bushfires, floods and cyclone recovery efforts when infrastructure may be damaged or unavailable.
Perhaps most importantly, the project highlights Australia's growing role in EV innovation.
While much of the global EV conversation focuses on new vehicles and batteries, Alpine Energy is tackling a different challenge: how to deliver energy wherever it is needed.
With prototype deployments set to begin and field validation programs now underway, the MGEN M40 could offer a glimpse into a future where charging infrastructure is no longer fixed to a location, but mobile, flexible and available wherever Australia's EV drivers need it most.
