CapMetro Activates New Overhead Bus Chargers

CapMetro, the public transit agency for Austin, has opened two new park-and-ride facilities equipped with overhead pantograph chargers. The sites, located at Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center, serve as endpoints for the agency’s Rapid 800 and Rapid 837 electric bus lines. These installations allow buses to replenish battery power while parked at the end of their routes.

The project was announced in June of this year and has now become operational. The new facilities provide passengers with improved amenities while integrating charging infrastructure directly into the daily operation of the electric fleet. The chargers enable buses to top up their batteries before beginning the return trip to the city center.

The charging network is anchored at CapMetro’s main bus depot. Infrastructure partner Camber Charging installed two 1,440 kW systems at that location. These systems connect to 48 industrial dispensers, creating a total charging capacity of 2.9 MW. The setup is designed to charge up to 48 electric buses simultaneously during overnight maintenance hours.

Andy Skabowski, CapMetro’s Chief Operations Officer and Executive VP, explained that on-route charging significantly increases vehicle availability. He stated that while a typical bus holds enough charge for eight hours of service, the new system extends that to 20 or 22 hours. Skabowski noted that every time the pantograph drops, the bus charges. This capability supports a commitment to 10 to 15 minute service intervals.

The buses are built on New Flyer’s Xcelsior battery-electric transit platform. The vehicles deliver up to 320 all-electric horsepower. New Flyer indicates the platform can offer up to 660 kWh of available capacity, though specific battery specifications for the Austin fleet were not detailed in the announcement. The full torque availability at zero rpm is suited for the stop-and-go traffic conditions in the city.

Camber Charging will provide preventive maintenance for the equipment. The partner also supplies charger and energy management software and conducts remote diagnostics across all three charging locations. The integration of these systems is intended to support the growing number of electric buses in CapMetro’s fleet.