CapMetro Rolls Out Overhead Charging for Austin’s Electric Buses

CapMetro in Austin has electrified two public bus lines and opened two new park-and-ride facilities featuring overhead pantograph-style wired charging equipment. Originally announced in June, the Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center stations are now open alongside the agency’s Rapid 800 and 837 electric bus routes, bringing upgraded passenger amenities and end-of-line charging infrastructure to support the growing electric fleet. At the main bus depot, infrastructure partner Camber Charging supplied and installed two 1,440 kW charging systems connected to 48 industrial dispensers, providing a total charging capacity of 2.9 MW designed to support overnight charging for up to 48 electric buses simultaneously. The Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center terminals extend this infrastructure along the Rapid 800 and 837 routes, using overhead pantograph chargers that allow buses to top off batteries at the end of each line to eliminate range anxiety for the return trip. CapMetro Chief Operations Officer and Executive VP Andy Skabowski noted that on-route charging extends operations from a typical 8 hours to 20 to 22 hours, making frequent 10- to 15-minute service possible. The buses are built on Canadian manufacturer New Flyer’s Xcelsior battery-electric transit platform, with New Flyer claiming up to 660 kWh of available capacity. Powered by up to 320 all-electric horsepower with all torque available at 0 rpm, the 48 electric buses handle stop-and-go traffic. Additionally, Camber Charging provides preventive maintenance, charger and energy management software, and remote diagnostics across all three locations, as reported by CapMetro and Charged EVs.