CapMetro Opens Two New Hubs to Charge 48 Electric Buses

CapMetro now charges 48 electric buses simultaneously at its main depot. The transit agency opened two new park-and-ride facilities on Thursday, Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center, to support this capacity. These sites connect to a new charging network that powers the agency's electric fleet.

Infrastructure partner Camber Charging installed two 1,440 kW systems at the main depot. These units connect to 48 industrial dispensers, creating a total charging capacity of 2.9 MW. The design allows the depot to charge the entire fleet overnight. The new terminals extend this network along the Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 routes.

Overhead pantograph chargers at the new terminals serve as the key component of the expansion. Buses use these chargers to top up their batteries at the end of each run. This process allows vehicles to return to the depot without range concerns. The facilities were first announced in June and are now operational.

Andy Skabowski, CapMetro's Chief Operations Officer, said the on-route charging extends service hours. He noted that a typical bus holds eight hours of charge. With on-route charging, that duration extends to 20 to 22 hours. Skabowski explained that the pantograph drops to charge the bus each time it stops. This frequency enables 10 to 15 minute service intervals.

The vehicles operate on the Xcelsior battery-electric platform made by New Flyer. The Canadian manufacturer states the platform offers up to 660 kWh of available capacity. The buses produce up to 320 all-electric horsepower. Full torque is available at 0 rpm, a feature suited to Austin's stop-and-go traffic patterns.

Camber Charging provides preventive maintenance for the fleet. The company also supplies charger and energy management software. Remote diagnostics cover all three charging locations. The upgrades support the growing number of electric buses serving the city.